Rare Egyptian treasures make US debut at San Francisco's De Young Museum

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- More than 100 ancient Egyptian artifacts are now on display at San Francisco's De Young Museum as part of the "Treasures of the Pharaohs" exhibition, marking the first stop of the exhibit in the United States.

The exhibition features six sections exploring Egyptian society, government and religion. Visitors can view artifacts that museum officials say offer a rare look at discoveries from ancient Egypt, including objects unearthed by archaeologists and items made of gold from tombs.

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Renee Dreyfus, curator in charge of ancient art at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, said the exhibition includes discoveries that have expanded understanding of ancient Egypt over time.

"We've had exhibitions from ancient Egypt several times throughout the years, but I'm so excited to be able to show some of these great discoveries that have come about through the ages about ancient Egypt. And we're in a room right now where there are many objects that were discovered. They were discovered by an archaeologist in 1939. And they are rare, beautiful, mostly gold objects from the tombs," Dreyfus said.

Among the featured pieces are artifacts from the tomb of Psusennes I.

"From the 21st dynasty, tomb of Psusennes I, it was found intact. Everything was just the way it was placed. A thousand BC discovered his mummy, this gold, this beautiful work of art, covered his mummy. Not just a beautiful work of art, but it is symbolic of what he would need to be safe in the afterlife," Dreyfus said.

Egypt's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathi, said the exhibition includes artifacts representing both royalty and ordinary Egyptians.

"A mix of collections that reflects kings and also normal people who work behind kings, and it has also, a golden collection that demonstrates part of what Egypt has," Fathi said.

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Asked why San Francisco was selected as the exhibition's first U.S. stop, Fathi pointed to the longstanding relationship between Egypt and the museum.

"The relation with this museum has been there for years," he said.

Fathi also highlighted cooperation between Egypt and the United States on archaeological projects and artifact recovery efforts.

"We have 50 American missions working in Egypt in the excavation, restoration, and these kinds of work with our ministry. We also cooperate in the restoration of non-ancient Egyptian monuments and mosques and archaeological sites. In addition, we have very close cooperation in retrieving stolen artifacts lost here," he said.

Dreyfus said visitors will notice the condition and craftsmanship of the objects on display.

"Well, the works that are here are all in wonderful condition. And you can see details like in this mask, you can see the inlaid eyes and the eyes. Are still there. He's looking at you," she said.

The "Treasures of the Pharaohs" exhibition opens to the public Aug. 1 and runs through Jan. 31, 2027, at the De Young Museum in San Francisco.