A most interesting Mummy. 1837All prints are produced on handmade paper which resembles the look, feel and weight of paper available during the historical period in which the art has been inspired from. During the height of ‘Egyptomania’ in the 19th century, the growing collections of discoveries being brought back to Europe triggered the ultimate gothic social event Mummy unwrapping and autopsy parties. These sought after social events consisted of a dinner and then the unwrapping of the mummy with any jewelry or trinkets found being given away to the guests. The most sought after social autopsy unwrapper at these parties was the English surgeon and antiquarian Thomas Joseph Pettigrew (1791–1865), also known as Thomas "Mummy" Pettigrew. Pettigrew became an expert on Ancient Egyptian mummies, publishing History of Egyptian Mummies in 1834.