Hand Carved Headstones

 

With the wave of European immigrants in the early 1900s, the granite industry had many talented hands that could sculpt full relief and bas relief carvings. Bas relief is defined as relief sculpture in which the figure projects slightly from the background. This process dates back to the early 1600's French sculptors.

Today's monument industry finds this talent in short supply, and many manufacturers simply aren't able to offer this service. At Century we're fortunate to have the talented hands of Mike Jones. Mike has a natural ability to sculpt stone and often works from photos without creating clay or plaster models. This reduces the time and expense to produce the finished work. His work is incredibly lifelike and creates quite an impression in the cemetery. While full relief sculpture can be expensive, bas relief as shown in the photo, is more economical - yet is very impressive.

Century Harmony also furnishes imported statues and relief carvings. The cost of imported work can be much lower, but the delivery time is much longer. You'll find more photos of Mike's work in our sculpture brochure, or you can ask your Century sales representative for quotes or to discuss your next project.

Columbaria and Cremation Gardens

Cremation gardens are amazingly beautiful and peaceful sanctuaries created for those visiting the cremated remains of loved ones. Cremation gardens can be an integral part of a church, cemetery or other public memorial park. For those who choose not to scatter remains, a small "room", or niche, can be purchased to house the cremation urn or box. These niches are sold as burial property, much like purchasing a grave or burial site. 

Niches are housed in a larger structure, called a columbarium. These can range in sizes from a 2 niche columbarium to a 96 (or larger) niche columbarium. The smaller versions are for personal use, such as a 2 niche for a husband and wife, or a larger 4 niche for an entire family.

The largest columbaria serve multiple individuals and families. These are utilized to create spaces throughout the garden. Together, they work to create a peaceful place to reflect and pay respect to lost loved ones. These large columbaria can range in size from 10 to 96 niches (or larger), and by combining several different pieces, can house hundreds of cremation containers. Cremation gardens are usually professionally designed by architects or landscape architects to make effective use of the space allotted, while incorporating lush landscape features such as fountains and seating areas. These gardens are timeless memorials for those choosing to purchase a cremation niche and are tranquil places for visitors.

Cremation Benches

 

Cremation rates have been on the rise for the past few years. In 2010, the cremation rate in the United States was up to 40.62%. It is predicted that by the year 2015, the U.S. cremation rate will be 46.57%. (Source: Cremation Association of North America) 

Once cremation has been chosen over standard ground burial, an important decision becomes "what to do with the cremains"? Many people choose to hold cremains in a decorative urn, or scatter cremation ashes in a ceremony to honor their loved one. But a growing number of families are also considering a resting place for the cremains, where family members can go to pay their respects.

There are many ways that families can memorialize cremains. One of the most popular memorials is a cremation bench. Benches of all different sizes can be designed to hold anywhere from one to four cremain containers, allowing a bench to become a memorial for the entire family.

Sandblasting and carving can be used to add the family name and artwork and emblems. When considering a veteran bronze marker from the VA, benches offer ample room for the VA marker as well as a companion bronze marker, as shown on the Century Veteran's Bench above. Carving, lettering, and bronze markers allow for custom designs for any cremation memorial bench.

Basic Granite Monument Types

  

Upright Monuments

• Designed to stand straight up perpendicular to level ground.
• The engraved marker portion is known as a "die." Most are usually 6" or 8" thick, but can be produced up to 1’ thick and sometimes more depending on the stone and the quarry it comes from.
• The horizontal portion is known as the base and is usually required. When there is no base to the monument, it is known as a monolith.
• The larger size allows for more personalized expression and room for engraving.
• Scenic designs and the family name are popular additions on the back.

  

Slant Monuments

• Upright slant shape. The thickness identified during ordering is the thickness of the base.
• The top is usually 2 inches thick.
• The top can be flat, oval, or serpentine shaped.
• A standard 2 inch to 4 inch nosing is recommended. This protects the polished etched surface.
• A base is optional and usually not required.
• May be used for individual or companion.

Flat Markers

• Designed to lie flat at lawn level.
• All are a minimum of 4 inches thick.
• Provides burial information for a single individual.
• May be used for individual or ordered double width for a companion.
• Perfect application for adding bronze, some cemetery restrictions may require
bronze on granite. 

  

Bevel Markers

• Often called a Pillow Marker or Hickey.
• Slight bevel slant from back to front of marker.
• The back is 2" thicker than the front to provide this bevel effect
• May be used for individual or companion.
• Usually 6" or 8" thick, however, thicker markers are available. 

Ledgers

• Designed to lie flat at lawn level.
• All are a minimum of 4 inches thick.
• Covers the entire length of the buried.
• The larger size allows for more personalized expression and room for engraving.

Laser Etched Monuments

Laser etched memorials are popular for their ability to recreate a person place or scene with incredible detail and realism.  Personal photos can be scanned and etched directly onto the stone.  There are also hundreds of existing scenes and components to choose from. Graphic artists can even integrate scenes with personal photos to create a truly unique and personal memorial. You can always preview designs in an etching catalog or an artist can work with you to develop a truly unique piece of laser etched art for your monument.

A laser etching machine is used to transfer the computer generated artwork to the granite, creating a crisp and extremely detailed etching. The amount of detail in a laser etched monument is unparalleled; allowing families to memorialize their loved ones in stone.

Dark granites are best for laser etching. Jet Black is the most popular, however other granite colors may be chosen. If the contrast of the etching is not high enough to provide the amount of detail needed, the etching may be colored with litho to provide more contrast with the granite.

Memorial Symbolism and Components

You are more than likely going to know what the family name will be on your monument. You'll need to decide what typeface to use (but we'll go over that in a later post). And if you have a favorite scripture or poem, you're likely to add that to your memorial too. Your also thinking of all the things that mean something to you and your loved ones. You want your monument to reflect special lives and what they meant to you.

Your counselor can assist with component catalogs and other artwork sources. Many of these components are symbolic and usually have deeper meaning. For example, there are over 8000 sacred and secular symbols and at least several thousand fraternal, military, collegiate and association symbols in use today. It's important to know what the component symbolizes when deciding. For example, the praying hands, in the above monument, symbolize faith and prayer while the roses symbolize love. The roses show the love in their marriage, and most likely their love of god, when combined with the praying hands.

For a more personal touch, you may want to ask your funeral home or counselor about adding something that can be scanned and incorporated into your monument design. Other families have previously utilized artwork, family trees, personal photos and favorite pets in their memorials. Most manufacturers will provide drawings for approval before monument construction begins.

Sandblasting Your Monument Design

Monument design can be very detailed and personal. If you are designing for pre-need you will be able to see your finished memorial in the cemetery. To work with draftsman and designers ahead of time allows you to fully customize the look and feel of your granite monument. If designing a monument for a loved one, you'll want to personalize both the artwork and the complete monument shape and size to reflect their life.

Part of this design process is transferring the finished artwork onto the granite. This is accomplished by sandblasting through a stencil prepared from the original monument design. Once the design is approved, a stencil is cut to replicate the outlines of the artwork and/or lettering. Once cut, the actual design is weeded out from the stencil, which allows the design to be sandblasted into the granite's surface. Meanwhile, the remaining material helps to protect areas of the monument from damage during the sandblast process.

Once the design has been sandblasted into the granite monument, the stencil is removed and the monument is sent for further manufacturing, such as polishing, cleaning, etching or painting (litho).

Flat and Shape Carving on Monuments

Once you've designed your memorial, the monument sections are put through a series of production stations to reproduce your design in solid granite. One of the first stops is sandblasting. A flat carving is created by sandblasting the outline (v-lines) of the design into the stone. This process creates a simple, two-dimensional contrast on the granite surface. The remaining smooth areas are then polished. The term simply refers to how the design is sandblasted into the stone. Flat carving is a great economical choice for many families and is also recommended on flat grass-markers.

A shape carving is created after the v-lines have been sandblasted. Next, a worker manually hand-shapes the design to give it more of a three-dimensional look. Shape carving is generally more expensive than flat carving because of this extra step and hand application. Shape carving can add hand sculpted details to an upright monument without the higher cost of an all-sculpted monument.

Personalizing Your Monument

Families have definite ideas about what they want on their memorial.  Many will take ideas from existing monuments, within the cemetery, and embellish them. Others have their own design ideas, including verbiage and artwork that represent their religion, hobbies, sports, fraternal or social affiliations, favorite scenery or family photos.

The important thing is to let your counselor know, as best as you can, what you want in a memorial piece.  Send a picture of something you may have already seen or even draw a picture.  In other words...spell it out! Be sure to include as much information as possible. The more you participate in the design process, the faster your monument can be designed. Chances are your price quote will be much more accurate too.

Now that you have compiled all of the necessary design information, there is one additional question you'll need to answer concerning your monument design:

Should you include lithochrome (litho)?  And, if so, what color?

Lithochrome is paint that is put in the carving and lettering, after the design has been sandblasted on the monument.  Adding litho allows for easier reading of the memorial by adding contrast to design elements and lettering.  When choosing colors, you need to be mindful of the finish.  Remember that finished areas will already appear lighter when compared to polished surfaces.  

ie: Black litho will not show up in the polish of a black granite, however, it looks wonderful on frosted panels.

Litho is not required, in fact some cemeteries prohibit it’s use, so be sure to check with your cemetery prior to ordering your memorial stone.

Common Monument Finishes

 

The finish of a granite monument or memorial describes how the surfaces of the stone are manufactured.  A polished surface is one of the most requested for the front and back (or top) of a monument. This type of surface is created by slowly “sanding” the granite with water and abrasives until it becomes smooth and glassy. A rock pitched surface is also known as “rough-cut” or “rustic”.  Skilled stonecutters create this finish manually with a hammer and chisel.

The most common finish for an upright monument is polished front and back with the top and ends rock pitched. 

Grass (flat) markers and bases for upright monuments typically are polished on the top and rock pitched around the sides.

Other common finishes that you might see in your cemetery:

Steeled: A light smooth texture in the granite surface created by sand blasting.

Creates the look of a lighter, frosted panel or lighter, textured artwork on the granite’s surface. Helps create a contrast between the darker granite color and the lettering or sandblasting.

Sawn: It is created when a diamond tipped saw makes a straight cut through the granite. The resulting texture is fairly smooth, with shallow “linear lines” from the saw blade. The sawn area usually appears slightly lighter in color than the actual granite.

Axed: A wide variety of smooth and textured patterns made by pneumatic hammers and steel chisels.  If a surface must be smooth but it cannot be sawed to that shape, it usually has to be axed by a skilled stonecutter.

Shell Rock: A hand-cut rustic surface with a strong, scalloped or dish shaped appearance, cut by a skilled cutter with a hammer and chisels.

Keep in mind that the finish of the granite can affect the cost of the monument more than any other factor.

Common Monument Shapes

Choosing the shape of your monument is the first step in designing your memorial.  The most common monument shape is called Serpentine Top (or Serp Top).  Other popular choices are Oval and Flat. Other traditional shapes include Single Hearts, Double Hearts, Crosses and monuments with columns.

The most common shaping on the sides of a monument is Straight.  But the sides can also be Tapered, Convex or Concave or some combination of these shapes.  If you do not specify the shape of the sides, manufacturers will most likely make the sides straight - as this is less costly.

Feel free to use your imagination!  Monument manufacturers can usually cut any shape from the granite that you can design.  Be creative with your monument, and your family will have a stone that is unique and personal for generations to enjoy.  Special shapes may require special handling, therefore you should anticipate additional freight charges and possible added time for manufacturing and delivery.

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Bronze Grassmarkers and Granite Bases

Bronze markers are very popular choices for memorialization. They are especially common in cemeteries that do not allow upright monuments. The flat cemetery markers help minimize time spent on mowing and ground maintenance. Many flatmarkers and grassmarkers have removable vases to help reduce the risk of damage from mowers and other equipment.

There are many different manufacturers of bronze cemetery markers; each company has it's own unique sizes and designs from which to choose. Bases for the bronze are manufactured from granite slabs which are sized slightly larger than the bronze. Industry standards size the granite bases larger than the bronze to accommodate a 2 inch border of granite around the bronze marker. Granite manufacturers will also drill lug and vase holes to match the bronze manufacturer's specifications for attaching the bronze marker to the granite.

VA bronze markers are available to veterans through government websites. Companion bronze markers are available from several bronze manufacturers throughout the US. When purchasing your bronze marker, a counselor will be able to guide you through granite choices, base sizing and additional bronze vase options.

Rubbing to Duplicate Monument Designs

When designing a memorial, families often start with monument designs and shapes already in their cemetery. Many headstones are aged and weathered, and the designs are no longer available; through monument dealers or manufacturers. Many families copy monument designs by transferring the face of the headstones to "transfer paper" - Creating what's called a Monument Rubbing.

Can I duplicate any monument in the cemetery?

Check with the cemetery to see if rubbing is even allowed in the cemetery. Rub only solid stones in good condition. Check for any cracks, evidence of previous breaks and adhesive repairs. Test paper and color before working on stone to be certain that no color bleeds through. Rub gently, carefully. Leave the stone in better condition than you found it.
  

When do I need a rubbing?
Any time that you want to duplicate a design or letter style or if you are duplicating a monument with the same Family Name.

When do I need a picture?
You will always need a picture if you are sending a rubbing to be duplicated. Take pictures of the monument; One of the entire stone and one close up of the carving. Digital photos are by far the best photos to use in the duplication of any monument or memorial design.

When do I not need a rubbing?
If you only want to imitate a design or letter style and not match it exactly.  In this case only a picture is needed.

If the rubbing moves do I have to start over?
Yes, if the rubbing moves or if you complete the rubbing and realize that it is not clear you will need to redo the rub. You cannot use the same rubbing. It is virtually impossible to line it back up and get an accurate rub the second time. The best thing to do is to start from scratch.  This may sound time consuming but it will prevent you from having to do it again later.