Street vendor selling mummies in Egypt, 1875.
During the Victorian era, it was common practice for the elites to buy those and then hold “Mummy Unwrapping Parties”. Mummies were also often ground into a powder and transformed into, for example, pigment.
During the Victorian era, it was common practice for the elites to buy those and then hold “Mummy Unwrapping Parties”. Mummies were also often ground into a powder and transformed into, for example, pigment.
The pigment known as "Mummy Brown"
In 1964, the pigment's manufacturer had no more mummies to grind up. “We might have a few odd limbs lying around somewhere, but not enough to make any more paint. We sold our last complete mummy some years ago for, I think, £3."
Edward Burne-Jones, The Last Sleep of Arthur in Avalon, painted probably using Mummy Brown.
The photo of the street vendor was taken by Félix Bonfils.
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