Tombstones have been around since the mid seventeenth century, and it's thought that originally they were intended to stop the dead rising from their graves. Nowadays, tombstones play an important part in the memorial process, and it's common that a tombstone contains not just a name and date, but also more personal information as well.
However, some tombstones designs are more original than others. For most of us, tombstone buying is a sad but necessary part of the funeral process, but for others it's an opportunity to creatively memorialise their loved ones. So check out our list of the most original tombstones ever made, and prepare to be amazed!
Amazing Tombstones 1: The Car
When it comes to tombstones, the sky's the limit, and as long as you've got the cash you can do anything you please. We're thinking that this guy really loved his cars, or at least we hope he did since he has a full scale model of a BMW M3 on his tombstone. This might look cool, but with tombstone prices being high as it is, we're slightly worried about the cost of this one, since we're pretty sure that funeral insurance doesn't cover memorials like this…
Original Tombstones 2: The Code
At first glance this marker might seem like thousands of other tombstones, but look closely and you'll see that the design in the middle is actually a QR code. QR codes can be scanned with your mobile phone, and link to web pages, meaning that you can scan this tombstone and get more information about the person it memorialises. This is one of the most recent innovations in tombstone design, and is a clever way to remember a loved one.
Inspiring Tombstones 3: True Love
You might not be overwhelmed by this memorial, until you learn the story behind it, that is. This is actually two tombstones belonging to a husband and wife. The couple had a mixed Catholic and Protestant marriage and were unable to be buried in the same cemetery. Fortunately, an understanding sculptor helped them design this memorial that allowed them to stay together for eternity. Tombstones don't get much more romantic than that…
Interesting Tombstones 4: The Computer
Tombstones can be used to reflect the personality or even hobbies of the person being remembered, and we're assuming that this guy was a bit of a computer nerd. This particular memorial might bring a smile to your face, but it's also a great idea. What better way to remember someone than by remembering how he lived his life?
Strange Tombstones 5: The… What?
Sometimes a chosen memorial is just inexplicable, and we'll be honest and say that we have absolutely no idea what's going on here at all. However, what's important is that tombstones mean something to the family choosing the marker, so we're sure that someone, somewhere knows exactly what's being remembered here. There's nothing wrong with being unique, even in a cemetery!
Beautiful Tombstones 6: The Car Part Two
And there's absolutely nothing wrong with being cheerful either. Whilst many cemeteries have rules about the kind of tombstone that can be used, some don't, and that allows people to choose memorials such as the above. Remembering someone in full colour with something whimsical can be a good way to celebrate life, rather than just remembering death.
Fun Tombstones 7: The Game
Enjoy playing Scrabble? We're thinking that this guy did, and his tombstone reflects his love of the game. This memorial is a great, fun way to remember someone that was loved, and to remember that he spent his time doing something that he loved. What more could you ask for in a great memorial?
Unique Tombstones 8: The Comforts of Home
Yes, this really is a tombstone, and probably one of the most unique tombstones we've ever seen. An entire living room set as a memorial, though we're not entirely sure what's being remembered here. However, this person certainly has all the comforts of home as his grave marker, and his tombstone is definitely one of the more memorable ones…
Tombstones come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, from the traditional stone marker to some of the unique and creative ideas we've shown you above. Memorialising someone is important, and should be done in the best possible way. And for some people that means being original!
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Main subject: Tombstones