Today, memorial keepsakes commemorating a deceased loved one are common. One can buy mementos created from funerary ashes, window decals, tattoos, plaques, wind chimes, and blankets, often featuring photos of the deceased. Memorial keepsakes are not a new thing. Before commercially produced mementos became available, hand-made needlework memorialized the death of loved ones. Select the … Continue reading Remembering the Dead with Embroidery
Tree stones are unique grave markers popular from the 1850s until the 1920s and 1930s. As with most funeral monuments, tree stones may represent an individual, family, or the wider culture and trends of the era. Tree stones also represent shifts in the funeral industry caused by the Industrial Revolution. Select the images for a … Continue reading Tree Stones in American Cemeteries
Cemetery and tombstone symbols have been reused and reinterpreted for thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians used pyramids, obelisks, sphinxes, and various symbols for monuments, temples, and tombs. Everything Egyptian became stylish again in the 19th century. During this Egyptian Revival, the designers of rural or garden cemeteries and families choosing tombstones and monuments adapted … Continue reading Egyptomania: Reviving Ancient Symbols in 19th Century Cemeteries