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Gravestone Browsing
By M Ryan Taylor on Aug 6, 2008 | In Other Worthy Halloween Sites | Send feedback »
O.K., so maybe it is a little strange to go browsing through gravestones, but honestly, I have a good reason. I was doing research for a current art project that I hope to post soon to this site. Besides, some of the designs are so fun and inventive. Really they just don’t make gravestones like they used to. I’ve decided I’ve got to have a winged skull on my own gravestone (it symbolizes the soul leaving the body and flying heavenward). There are all kinds of wonderful symbols. A few to look out for:
- Winged skull or flying head : soul going toward heaven.
- Arrow : mortality.
- Trumpet (with or without angels) : resurrection day (i.e. the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised).
- Hourglass (with or without wings) : time is fleeting, seize the day.
- Sunburst : resurrection morning.
There are many more, but that’s a sampling. The artwork varies in quality from simply amazingly detailed to very simple or primitive. It is such a joy to look at. Real eye candy.
The best part is that you don’t have to go to a cemetary to browse. There are some amazing online resources and collections of grave marker photos. My absolute favorite so far is: Farber Gravestone Collection. This is all in black and white, which is the best way to view gravestones anyway. All the markers are pre-1800, so you’re guaranteed all classic carving.
Other grave resources that you might be interested in:
- Really into graves? Join The Association for Gravestone Studies.
- An excellent guide to understand gravestones from Farber : Early American Gravestones
- This guide to early gravestones has many examples of varying motifs and styles.
Happy gravewalking!
