This is part of the Egyptian sculptures galleries. In the foreground is a granite sarcophagus decorated with a panelling known as 'palace facade', so called because it was based on the mud-brick facade of the early Egyptian palace.

Beyond the sarcophagus is a large and impressive example of a false door. In the Old Kingdom (about 2613-2160 BC) false doors were a standard feature of tombs in the Memphite region. It is unusual to see the 'palace facade' type covered with single columns of text.

On the upper floors are exhibits of Egyptian mummies and cases.

This exhibit is the naturally mummified body of an Egyptian predynastic man, who died more than 5000 years ago, in a reconstructed grave pit.

This shows the early Egyptian custom of placing the body in a contracted position. Before mummification was developed bodies were placed in shallow desert graves in direct contact with the sand. This meant that they frequently did not decay, because the hot dry sand absorbed the water in the human body. This body has been very well preserved, including the hair and toe and finger-nails.

Two Japanese late 17th century model elephants made from porcelain. These items would have been made for the European market and were probably copied from pictures as real elephants would not have been seen in Japan at this time.