Category Archives: Symbolism

Aspiration

Posted on February 10, 2013 by gravelyspeaking

William Arthur Rogers (1851-1946) The dramatic 10-foot bronze sculpture “Aspiration” was created in 1926 by Harriet Whitney Frishmuth (1880-1980) for the Rogers monument in the Forest Lawn Cemetery at Buffalo, New York.  Frishmuth was well known for her sculptures of … Continue reading →

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Fallen Doughboy

Posted on February 7, 2013 by gravelyspeaking

  JOSEPH QUADRI HE BRAVELY GAVE HIS LIFE FOR THE CAUSE OF HIS COUNTRY BORN DEC 28, 1896 DIED OCT 2, 1918 Private Joseph Quadri of Brooklyn was killed in World War I.  His body was transported to the United … Continue reading →

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Winged Cherub’s Head

Posted on January 31, 2013 by gravelyspeaking

The bronze gravestone of Harry Albright is adorned by a winged cherub.  The patina on the cherub’s face gives the image an almost haunting look.  The winged cherub was a symbol that became popular in the 18th Century.  Winged cherubs replaced the stark and morbid … Continue reading →

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The Crown

Posted on January 15, 2013 by gravelyspeaking

The crown on the gray granite block gravestone of Cornelia McDonald in the Cave Hill Cemetery at Louisville, Kentucky, represents victory.  The crown is a symbol of glory and reward and victory over death.  The reward comes after life and the … Continue reading →

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Egyptian or Greek?

Posted on January 12, 2013 by gravelyspeaking

The most famous sculpture of a sphinx is the Great Sphinx of Giza outside of Cairo, Egypt.  In the Egyptian tradition the benevolent mythological creature has the head of a man and the body of a lion.  The Greek sphinx, … Continue reading →

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The Curse of King Tut

Posted on January 9, 2013 by gravelyspeaking

The Darius Miller Mausoleum in the Rosehill Cemetery at Chicago, Illinois, is a magnificent example of Egyptian Revival architecture found in many large urban cemeteries. Egyptian ornamentation can be divided into three categories—architectural, geometric, and natural.  The mausoleum features–the cavetto … Continue reading →

Posted in Mausoleums, Symbolism | 6 Comments

The Square and the Compasses

Posted on January 2, 2013 by gravelyspeaking

The metal marker from the Forest Home Cemetery at Forest Park, Illinois, marks the grave of a Mason.  It is the metal reproduction of what is perhaps the most recognizable emblem of the Freemasons, the square and two compasses.  In … Continue reading →

Posted in Metal Markers, Symbolism | 1 Comment

Winged Cherub’s Head

Posted on December 29, 2012 by gravelyspeaking

Several small cast-iron markers can be found in the St. Joseph Cemetery at Lafayette, Indiana.  These tiny headstones mark the graves of young children and are characterized by a cross and a winged cherub.  The cross, of course, is a … Continue reading →

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Tree-stump open book

Posted on December 27, 2012 by gravelyspeaking

Tree stump tombstones, generally carved from limestone, were a part of the rustic movement of the mid-nineteenth century which was characterized by designs that were made to look like they were from the country. The gravestones are purposefully designed to … Continue reading →

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Commerce and Victory

Posted on December 23, 2012 by gravelyspeaking

The second largest mausoleum in the Forest Home Cemetery at Forest Park, Illinois, was built for  life-long Chicago resident, William Grunow, (born April 30, 1893; died July 6, 1951) a partner in the Majestic Radio Company. The pathway to the … Continue reading →

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