Sydney Cockerell, Cambridge and Egyptian Antiquities

The Fitzwilliam Museum is celebrating the directorship of Sydney Cockerell with an exhibition, 'I turned it into a palace' [Exhibition Catalogue].

A number of Egyptian objects feature:

• New Kingdom papyrus: Book of the Dead (E.2.1922)
• Head of Senusret III (E.37.1930)

The discussion of the antiquities includes mention of Wallis Budge who purchased on the museum's behalf. This period was dominated by Frederick William Green, honorary keeper of Egyptian Antiquities (1910-49). (His counterpart for Greek and Roman antiquities was Winifred Lamb.)

The museum's Egyptian holdings were further supplemented by the Charles Shannon bequest in 1937.