Beyond Beauty

Beyond Beauty presented the ancient Egyptians at their most varied and spectacular, while also allowing us to glimpse them at their most intimate and human.

This major exhibition not only explored the day-to- day routines of ancient Egyptians, it also addressed the importance of appearance in the afterlife. Alongside extraordinary coffins and funerary head coverings were their owners’ ancient mirrors, combs and hairpins, bracelets, necklaces, sandals, textiles, cosmetic vessels, scent jars and other ornaments, as well as tablets giving us insights into elite styles of the age, which have echoes in the fashion and lifestyle magazines of the present day.

Beyond Beauty was curated by Dr Margaret Serpico with Heba Abd el Gawad and brought together Egyptology collections from our seven partner organisations: Bagshaw Museum (Kirklees Council), Bexhill Museum, Bolton Museum, Ipswich Museum, Macclesfield Museums, Royal Pavilion & Museums (Brighton & Hove) and Touchstones Rochdale.