British auction house Christie’s is auctioning a 3,000 old stone head sculpture of an ancient Egyptian figure bearing the facial features of Tutankhamun on July 4 in London. The news was reported by Financial Times, which also stated that the reputable company is aiming to secure at least £4m for the controversial sale. The head is supposedly privately owned and has appeared, for the first time on the open market, since 1985. News of the statue’s sale, especially considering who it represents – the famous boy king of the 18th dynasty- sparked outrage on social media where users have expressed dismay that Egyptian artifacts are still privately exploited and bargained. Many have called for the statue to be repatriated to Egypt where it would find a home with the rest of Tutankhamun’s collection now at the Egyptian Museum, going soon to be relocated to the Grand Egyptian Museum. Tutankhamun, made famous from the discovery of his intact tomb by Howard Carter in 1922, has been a key element of ‘egyptomania’ which has inspired movies, books, fashion houses and modern day architecture. The artifact, belonging to a private collection known as…
