THE LUXOR TOMB.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18342, 7 March 1923, Page 9

THE LUXOR TOMB.

I REASON FOR RE-SEALING. I I FRENCH SCENT MYSTERY. ! A. and N.Z. PARIS, March 5. I The newspaper L'Oeuvre states that a reputable French Egyptologist is of : opinion that it was not excessive heat or •technical difficulties that occasioned the . re-sealing of Tuten'j.hamun's tomb. The real reason is, he asserts, that the coffin •in the second chamber was found to be ! empty, having been rifled.

I RENOVATION OF TREASURES.

ASTONISHING SUCCESS. LONDON. Feb. '25. To-day's inspections of Tutenkhamun's ' tomb were like the farewell performance 'of an extraordinarily successful play after fa tumultuous run. During the last two j days nearly 200 visitors were admitted. t The sealing of the tomb till the autumn I will begin to-morrow. Already natives J are hard at work sawing great squared | beams for blocking the doorway before I rocks are piled above it. Meanwhile Mr. Lucas and Mr. Mace ! are working by torch-light in the tomb {of Sett the Second. They have made . wonderful progress in the cleaning and 'classification of the objects removed. It ' is amazing how expert treatment restores i the original colours and design, which are now seen in all their dazzling and J wonderful splendour. I Mr. Mace, who is working on the " jig saw puzzle of the King's robes, has succeeded in reconstructing the collar, which has a rich pattern of concentric rings and rectangular plaques of faience in deep blue, turquoise, red, yellow and other colours. But the most exquisite article is the corselet, which is made of pear-shaped (links of faience inlaid with gold, with : a soi-t of chain-mail of superb design. The whole thing is as beautiful as any- , thing in any museum. Restoration of the famous throne has I revealed in amazing and brilliant colours the figures of the King and his Queen, i in semi-opaque glass, chiefly of a glorious I deep red. The Queen's head-dress is of I the finest inlay in brilliant royal blue. The golden shrine'looks more beautiful 1 than ever. Its casing is not mere gilding, but gold-plate df perceptible thiakness I hammered over modelled plaster. The ! top is covered with a peculiarly rich de- ' sign of vultures with outspread wings. I A beautiful gem is an ivory box, amazingly delicately painted with hunting scenes. On one side the King is seen hunting lions, and on the other are many beasts, including ostriches, antelopes and striped hyenas. Enormous interest is taken in the bouquets, and applications for seeds have been received from scientific institutions, nurseries, and private individuals in various parts of the world.