Ceramic Flowers

The ceramic flowers above come from various cemeteries in England, Wales and the Netherlands. They were particularly popular during Victorian times, providing an eternal floral tribute that ensured the graveside constantly appeared well tended, unlike fresh flowers that ultimately wither and die and would indicate how regularly the site was visited. 

The flowers themselves are made from sandstone and then brightly glazed in the Majolica style, it was a very popular pottery of it's time, and included a variety of decorative household items, from tableware to jardinieres and ornamental pieces.

It seems that France is now the main producer of these ceramic flowers, where there are many fine examples throughout the country's cemeteries. They are still exported worldwide today, with Australia importing them as they favour the European burial style.

Here are a few grand examples of ceramic flowers found at Pere Lachaise and Pons in France.

Cemetery Ornaments to be Banned

The subject of Graveside Ornamentation is an issue of personal taste and choice.

In the wonderful book Falling Angels by Tracy Chevalier, this subject became a very personal issue in the Victorian age, with the type of ornamentation, reflecting not only a matter of good taste, but also the class from which one came from. It defined the lines between being 'tasteful' versus 'common and vulgar'.

The debate is still an on going issue today, with Colchester cemetery in Essex, making the news with their policy on banning and removing certain items of ornamentation.

In Britain, most Churchyard interments, favour more conservative regulations, including specific monument size, design and certain wording allowed.
By comparison, Cemeteries in general are more liberal and lenient with their rules and regulations and therefore make them the preferred option for those who wish to be more creative in their expression of grief, such as these Travellers graves in Chelmsford.

Please click on the bold type above for more information.