Project « From Egypt to Mariemont: a history of the Egyptian antiquities »

Mariemont’s Egyptian antiquities collection has come together in different ways over time. Raoul Warocqué’s aim was to collect specific types of Egyptian objects but successive curators have attempted to fill what they deemed to be the gaps he left behind. 

Irrespective of Warocqué’s reason to select (or dismiss) a specific piece, his acquisition of Egyptian objects should be viewed within the wider context of his wish to acquire antiques in general. It is also important to consider the objects themselves and try to track the journey from their manufacture in ancient times to their arrival at Mariemont. Some pieces can be traced back to the archaeological sites where they were discovered. 

For this purpose, the Mariemont archives, those of the (Belgian) Queen Elizabeth Egyptology Association (Association égyptologique Reine Élisabeth) and the catalogues of other museums are valuable sources of information.