University of Aberdeen artefacts to be exhibited in China throughout 2024

More than 120 items from the University of Aberdeen's Egyptian archaeology collection are being exhibited in venues across China throughout 2024.

"Meet Ancient Egypt: Mummy, Life and Death in Ancient Egypt" is made up entirely of items on loan from the university's collections and was designed by the Meet You Museum in China working with the Expona museum exhibition network of Italy.

Exhibits encompass thousands of years of history and include the mummified remains of a cat, crocodile and ibis, pottery and alabaster vessels, hieroglyphic friezes, jewellery, ‘Book of the Dead’ papyrus, and statues of gods.

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Neil Curtis, Head of Museums and Special Collections at the University of Aberdeen, said: "The collection of Egyptian archaeology in the care of the University is one the most important in the world.

"We are delighted to be able to display over 100 items this year in an exhibition on display in the Meet You Museums in Shanghai, Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Beijing."

Caroline Dempsey, the University’s Museum Conservator, recently returned from overseeing the installation of the exhibition at its second venue in Hangzhou. "Working alongside the Chinese museum professionals was a wonderful experience," she said.

"The conservator, Mr Wang, very kindly showed me the beautiful West Lake area before we embarked on an intense three days of work, getting the objects into their cases. The installation team have created a fantastic display with our collection."

The exhibition provides an opportunity not only to share the history and importance of the items in the collection on an international scale, but also presents a teaching opportunity for staff members and students involved in Museum Studies programmes at the University.

Professor Alison Brown, Programme Director of the MLitt Museum Studies programme, explained that the loan of the collections allowed staff to talk with students about the behind-the-scenes work involved in coordinating international museum exhibitions and partnerships such as this.

She also noted that, as the Museum Studies cohorts often include students from China, this exhibition "gives prospective students a chance to see examples of the kind of historically important collections they would then have the chance to work with as students here in Aberdeen."

The exhibition is available to visit at Meet You Museum Hangzhou until June 25, 2024 before moving to other cities across China:

Meet You Museum Hangzhou: March 26 2024 – June 25 2024

Meet You Museum Chengdu: July 19 2024 – October 20 2024

Meet You Museum Beijing: November 13 2024 – February 16 2025