mummiform

Mummiform is an adjective describing something that resembles, imitates, or preserves the form of a mummy. The term is formed from mummy plus the suffix -form, indicating shape. In archaeology, art, and museum contexts, mummiform is used to describe coffins, statues, or effigies that resemble a wrapped, desiccated body, often with limbs folded or aligned as in Egyptian mummies. Such descriptions focus on visual presentation rather than function or origin.

The word is descriptive rather than a technical classification. It can apply to ancient artifacts intentionally designed to resemble mummified figures, as well as to modern sculptures or replicas that imitate the mummy’s appearance. Its use is common among archaeologists, art historians, and curators when a piece's form clearly evokes mummified anatomy or the ritual wrapping tradition.

Mummiform should not be confused with actual mummification; it refers to the external shape and stylistic cues. Etymologically, it traces to a Latin-based formation in English through medieval Latin mummiformis, combining mummy with form.