Coffin Plates
COFFIN PLATES
When it comes to creepy, it doesn’t get more grim and ghostly than items inspired by the dead. So when we came across this curious “Mother” Antique Casket Plaque offered by Tatianista, we began digging down into the dark soil of the internet to unearth more mortuary-inspired coffin plates, also known as casket plaques, and other artifacts, both new and old, inspired by the adornment of their final resting place.
Coffin plates date back to the 17th century and were used as decorative markers for caskets to identify who was inside. Made out of a variety of materials such as lead, silver, tin, pewter, or brass, they could be very simple or elaborate based on what people could afford. Families with greater wealth could have a coffin plate made with a more ornate design containing higher quality metals and lettering with extensive details such as birth date, years lived, and where they were from. Simpler versions are stamped with one word, such as “mother” or “our darling.”
The older antique coffin plates are, the higher they cost when they were made. Coffin plates made in the 17th century could often only be afforded by families of higher means, whereas by the 19th century, most families could afford coffin plates.
Dive into this spooky and lesser-known tradition and be sure to check out the shop for each collector or artist.
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