Tátrai Vilmos szerk.: A Szépművészeti Múzeum közleményei 95. (Budapest, 2001)

VOZIL, IRÉN: Technical analysis, restoration and evaluation of material testing of the bronze statuette of Imhotep

footstool, which could be seen only in fragments prior to the restoration (figs. 20-27). Thus the text could be fully interpreted and the new results were also useful in determining a more accurate dating. On the papyrus scroll a religious text with implications to the other world became legible. The hieroglyphic inscription on the four sides of the footstool contains the name and genealogy of the owner of the statue as well as an offering formula. The restoration process not only increased the quantity of text, but also exposed silver inlays on the hand, toe nails, and on the straps and edge of the sole of the sandal. After completing the restoration I had to apply a protecting layer which protects all three metals from subsequent corrosion and contamination (I used a toluene solution of Paraloid B 72). The final result of the restoration can be seen on fig. 7. III. CONCLUSION FROM MATERIAL TESTING Above I have already mentioned that the two main parts of the Imhotep bronze statue had seemed to be different in their materials and processing. In addition to the visible differences (such as style, processing, etc.) we wanted to prove this assumption by means of material testing. The sampling locations for the material testing are as follows (fig. 28)

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: 1. from the garment of the seated figure between the legs 2. from the internal surface of the footstool located beneath the feet of the seated figure 3. from the tenon of the footstool 4. from the chair 5-6. from the base of the chair 28. Imhotep statuette - locations of samples taken for material testing: on the statuette and the footstool (a); on the chair and the base (b) 15 The drawings of figs. 8-9 and 28. have been prepared by artist Sándor T. Benkö.