Several boxes were placed next to each other on the
north side of the Treasury. One of the most
elaborately decorated of these is illustrated here.
The basic wood structure was, according to
Carter,
cedar. The ivory knobs were stained red. Horizontal
and vertical bands of ivory were applied to all four
sides and the lid, and a hieroglyphic inscription
giving the formal names of the king, which he
received at his coronation, were incised and then
filled in with black pigment. The queen's name is
also recorded on the bands.
The spacing of the
ivory bands leaves open several horizontal panels on
each of the sides and the lid. In these spaces is an
openwork design in carved and gilded wood. Applied
to the wood, these golden
hieroglyphs, ankh,
was and neb, mean "all life and
dominion". In the six panels on the roof, the
hieroglyphs are arranged in trios, an ankh
flanked by a was sign, and underneath is a
neb basket. The hieroglyphs on the sides,
however, are not as symmetrically arranged. Each of
the four legs is capped in silver. The interior of
the box has sixteen small compartments, and each
division was edged in ivory.
Because of the small size of the inner
partitions, Carter surmised that the original
contents were gold or silver cosmetic jars. All had
been stolen in antiquity, and the necropolis
officials, who restore order to the tomb, utilized
the chest for objects of lesser value, such as a
basket and some scribal equipment.