A coffin for a human being molded of papier-maché. The coffin is formed with ribs that provide strength to the structure and at the same time have a decorative effect. The improved method of forming the coffin includes drawing paper pulp onto the molds while the latter are inverted so that there is a heavy flow of pulp by gravity to the open end of the coffin to produce heavier flanges. When the mold is received from the pulp with the coffin molded onto it, an air impervious blanket is placed over the coffin when the vacuum is applied to suction the water from the papier-maché so that greater compression of the pulp is obtained to produce a stronger papier-maché structure and reduce the drying time. Knowledge of papier-maché manufacture can aid in its conservation.