Skip to main content
Curiosa
Sign InTry a scan

Egyptian Papyrus Painting of Tutankhamun

Egyptian papyrus painting of King Tutankhamun funerary mask in a gold frame.

Estimated value

$40 - $120

Rarity

Common(2/10)

Category

Paintings

Era

late 20th century, circa 1980-1995

Origin

🇪🇬 Egypt

Artist / Creator

unsigned artist

Authenticity

Very High(90%)
45

EGYPTIAN PAPYRUS PAINTING OF TUTANKHAMUN: IDENTIFICATION

A contemporary hand-painted souvenir artwork on authentic papyrus substrate, depicting the gold funerary mask of Tutankhamun. The composition features a central circular vignette with a dark umber background, executed in gouache or acrylic paint with metallic gold highlights. The papyrus displays characteristic horizontal and vertical reed fiber striations with deckled, uneven edges mounted against a black mat in a modern gold-toned metal frame.

Compare with other paintings in the archive: Surrealist Painting by William Vandenjoc, Abstract Expressionist Landscape Painting, Winterzon by Ansje Siel (2023).

CROSS-CULTURAL PARALLELS

Where This Object Echoes

Modern Egypt1970-present

The revival of papyrus production as a National craft and primary export for the tourism industry.

Ritual & Ceremonial Use

  • •Souvenir acquisition and display as a marker of travel and cultural appreciation.

Meaning Through Time

Ancient Egypt

The mask served as a functional religious tool to ensure the pharaoh's soul recognized his body in the afterlife.

Modern Era

The image of Tutankhamun has become a global visual shorthand for archeological discovery and Egyptian identity.

PERIOD & ATTRIBUTION

This style of papyrus painting emerged in Egypt during the late 1960s and early 1970s, following the 1962 rediscovery of papyrus-making techniques by Dr. Hassan Ragab. While based on the 18th Dynasty funerary mask (circa 1323 BCE) discovered by Howard Carter in 1922, this specific execution is a ...
This style of papyrus painting emerged in Egypt during the late 1960s and early 1970s, following the 1962 rediscovery of papyrus-making techniques by Dr. Hassan Ragab. While based on the 18th Dynasty funerary mask (circa 1323 BCE) discovered by Howard Carter in 1922, this specific execution is a 20th-century decorative interpretation designed for the international tourism market.

COLLECTOR NOTES

1

Dr. Hassan Ragab spent years researching the 'Cyperus papyrus' plant to revive this ancient manufacturing process, which had been lost in Egypt for over 1,000 years.

SCARCITY

Common20-40%
CommonLegendary

Older mass-produced items still widely available. Easy to find on eBay, antique malls, and estate sales in large quantities.

Rarity 2/10. Curiosa currently catalogues 51 paintings items at rarity 2 or higher.

Typical Characteristics

  • Mass produced historically
  • High survival rate
  • Readily available everywhere

Confidence Factors

  • Consistent with mid-to-late 20th century Egyptian tourist production
  • Standard commercial framing materials visible
  • Modern synthetic pigment application
How does authenticity detection work?

THE ART SPECIALIST'S TAKE

Museum-Trained Art Historian

Connoisseur

The item is a highly standardized object types with distinct material markers (papyrus striations) and clear modern framing that confirms its 20th-century origin.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Visible cross-hatched reed fibers characteristic of authentic 'Cyperus papyrus' sheets.
  • 2Stylized, non-classical color palette including high-contrast blues and modern metallic golds.
  • 3Modern 1980s-style metal channel frame with dark matting common in retail galleries.
  • 4Presence of a painted 'tondo' or circular vignette, a modern compositional choice not found in New Kingdom tomb paintings.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Check for a stamped 'Certificate of Authenticity' often tucked behind the backing board or adhered to the reverse.
  • →Inspect the lower corners for a simplified signature in Arabic or English, common for workshop-led production.

CONDITION & GRADE

Condition

The papyrus exhibits natural fiber variations and minor rippling consistent with the medium; the frame shows a modern metallic finish with secure mounting.

ART MARKET VALUATION

$40 - $120

Updated: May 10, 2026

Who buys this

Home decorators and travelers seeking Egyptian-themed wall art or mementos of international travel.

What increases value

  • •Large scale and professional framing add more value than the artwork itself
  • •Authenticity of the papyrus substrate compared to cheaper banana-leaf alternatives

What lowers value

  • •Extreme market saturation of King Tut motifs
  • •Light damage causing fading of pigments or yellowing of the papyrus fibers

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Hand-painted details rather than printed outlines
  • •Provenance from a recognized institute like the Ragab Papyrus Institute

Grade & condition

Fading of pigments, rippling of papyrus, and condition of the frame molding.

Rarity & demand

CommonModerate demandSells quickly
Browse similar paintings objects

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

FROM THE CABINET OF

LI

ligtvoet
Wonderseeker•2 items

COMMENTS

No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!

Sign in to leave a comment

ABOUT PAINTINGS

Oil paintings, watercolors, acrylics, and painted works on canvas, panel, and paper.

Paintings value and rarity guide

SHARE THIS CURIOSITY

Have your own curiosities to discover?

Scan Your Curiosity