An Early 20thC Carved White Marble Gravestone in the Form of a Latin Cross

Origin: English
Period: Early 20thC
Provenance: Unknown
Date: c.1920-40
Height: 27.75”
Width: 14.25”
Depth: 4”

The stunning tomb or headstone carved in high quality white marble, in octagonal form with facetted edges, in the shape of a crux ordinaria (Latin cross) the whole being unmarked, survives from the first half of the twentieth century.

In one piece, the grave marker shows commensurate light weathering with age through direct exposure of the elements with some soil discolouration to the base as photographed. The stone benefits from being freestanding so does not need support for display, though of course it would be far safer to do so.

In the 19th century, headstone styles became very diverse, ranging from plain to highly decorated, and often using crosses on a base, like this one, or other shapes differing from the traditional slab. The Latin, Roman or Christian Cross as represented here is the most common symbol of Christianity, intended to represent the death of Jesus when he was crucified on the True Cross and his resurrection in the New Testament.

Stones such as this are, unsurprisingly, rarely offered for sale and this example has a beautiful simple and ethereal quality that is testament to the stonemason who bore it.