An ancient Egyptian gilded Cartonnage with polychrome decoration period to late - Greek-
Roman period found in Saqqara, Egypt was examined to characterize structure components
(pigments, grounds layers and binder. It was studied by Optical Microscopy, X-ray diffraction
(XRD), Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), Scanning electron microscopy
coupled with energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDS) and Fourier transform infrared
spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. These techniques were used to identify the composition and
morphology of grounds, nature of pigments and media used in the Cartonnage. The gilded
Cartonnage is made on a double layer of plain weave linen soaked in gum. The first Coarse
ground layer being a mixture of calcite and huntite. The second layer (finer one) being pure
white calcite, the pigment colors employed were red, yellow and gold. Red was identified as
hematite blended with gypsum, yellow as Calcite mixture with orpiment and gypsum. Gilded
layer was identified as gold and silver with very thin layer of hematite and orpiment mixed with
organic binder applied under the gilded layer. The binding medium on a double layer of plain
weave linen , the coarse and the fine layer and binder in the yellow and red pigment areas
was Arabic gum.