Tutankhamen Play

My brother had an Egyptian-themed play in his school a while ago, for which volunteer prop makers were needed. Naturally, he guaranteed that his sister could make as many items as necessary. I eventually ended up with two items to make: a Tutankhamen mask, and an Egyptian-style vase. I set about the vase first, since I had a week until the play on Friday, and wanted to think about the mask first.

The vase, and a happy brother

I conducted research, to ensure that the things I created had a certain degree of authenticity to them, even if it was a year 5 play. I then went into a flat-price store, and got the biggest vase I could find which resembled something Egyptian. Unfortunately, this vase wasn't particularly big, but I hoped that by painting it gold, it would stand out more. It was white, but had a black pattern and a glaze on top, which meant that several thick coats would need to be applied. I then took a permanent marker and drew designs on, referring to the reference pictures I had found. I had planned to include the traditional human figures for which Egyptian art is renown, but realised that the combination of a small vase, thick pen and intricate design was not one I found particularly encouraging, especially since I was rather happy with how it had turned out in the first place.

The other, the mask, I had originally wanted to make out of a big five-liter bottle which would easily slide over the head of the child and which I could papier-mache into the appropriate shape. I soon realised that the bottles I had were never going to fit on the head of nine-year old boy. Unwilling the scrap the idea, yet aware that it wasn't going to work, I searched for how to make an Egyptian mask and got some beautiful designs. However, none of them satisfied me fully, as they were all far too simple and two-dimensional. I wanted the mask to be truly worthy of the Boy King, or at least a play about him.

the finished papier-mache,
with first layer blow-dried

I was struck by an idea the next day. Cutting away the majority of the square-like bottle cylinder, I left the bottom of the bottle completely intact. Only a quarter section, enough to cover the face, was left, where the mask would actually be made. I cut incisions into the sides of the bottle bottom, so that when it was put onto the head, the four sides of the crown of the mask would just fit snugly. I then soaking pieces of newspaper in PVA and water and applied them to shape the mask. Having done that on a Wednesday, and very proud of myself for managing time well, I had planned to let it dry over-night and finish it on Thursday evening.

My brother then dropped upon me that the play was on Thursday, because Friday was International Day. I was certain that now, after all the obstacles I had worked so hard to overcome, the mask finally had me beat. Yet another idea came to me in the shower (as most ideas do), or more specifically as I was drying my hair with a blow-drier. I searched online whether blow-drying papier-mache was a good idea, and although it said that the overall strength of the structure could be undermined in minor ways, there were no explicit warning against the practise. So I found myself blow-drying King Tut, and in an hour, the surface layer of the mask was dry, with some of the bottom ones too. Now however, I knew that I couldn't do much. If I tried ot blow-dry the reverse to heat up the inner layers, the plastic of the bottle warped.

The finished product

I did leave the mask overnight, after I had made the headdress, but woke up an hour earlier to paint and finish off. The 2D designs I had looked at in a moment of desperation suddenly became useful, as I made the Pharaoh beard using one of their templates. I think the greatest issue was the fact that I had gotten the date wrong. It resulted in a lot of rush and panic, especially in the morning when it was just me, the mask and an hour left.

I also found out later that my brother wasn't even going to be Tutankhamen, he was Howard Carter, and the mask was for another boy.