Christopher,

I think that you need to look as closely as possible for the evidence
of metal coffin furniture and mounts and upholstery for coffins in
your region.

Mourning pictures and other visual media can be helpful but I am sure
that there must be some excavated examples from churches and also
archeological projects.

When I was at Colonial Williamsburg there was a major project in the
early 1990's to reproduce the coffin of Lord Botetourt (a colonial
royal governor of Virginia who died in office) so as to re-enact his
funeral. They had the original silver engraved coffin plate and
handles that were collected and saved from the vault and there was
significant evidence in a description of the funeral and procession in
the Virginia Gazette. So were were able to fully reproduce the coffin,
mounts, and upholstery. (you can check the Pennsylvania Gazette for
funeral notices and also adverts for building coffins by cabinet
makers: The PA Gazette is available online:
http://www.accessible.com/about/aboutPG.htm)

Of course that was a high-end top of the social ladder funeral for a
chruch of England (Anglican) full English Lord.

When I did archeological excavations on 17th and 18th century burials
for more common folk the only evidence we would find would be some
wrought nails and shroud pins.

I do believe that the Folk Art collection at CWF has extensive
mourning pictures and associated funerary artifacts from the 18th and
19th centuries.

Of course coffins were usually built by the local cabinet / furniture
maker in the colonial / early federal period. And German funeral
practices could be very distinct from Quaker, Moravian, or those of
other groups, so you may want to cast either a narrower or wider and
more diverse net in what you are presenting.

I would suggest contacting the curator of furniture at CWF as well as
the curator at the Folk Art Collection for information. You can call
757-229-1000 and ask the operator to connect you to their extentions.

Cheers!
Dave

David Harvey
Conservator, Los Angeles CA

On 8/22/07, Cascio, Chris <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> I am working on an exhibit on death and dying in colonial America.  We
> have a reproduction coffin here at Pottsgrove and want to have it
> covered in leather with appropriate hardware such as handles, tacking,
> burial plate(s) etc...
>
> So far, I found an image of such a pattern on a needlework on page 239
> of Elizabeth Donagy Garrett's "At Home: The American Family 1750-1870."
>
> Are there any other images or information out there to help us upholster
> this coffin correctly?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Chris
>
> Christopher M. Cascio
> Assistant Site Administrator
> Pottsgrove Manor historic site
> 100 West King Street
> Pottstown, PA  19464-6318
> (610) 326-4014
> [log in to unmask]
> www.historicsites.montcopa.org
>
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