GB2575325A

GB2575325A - Decorative memorial article and method for forming same

Info

Publication number: GB2575325A
Application number: GB1811166.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Coutts Esther
Original assignee: N & B Calder Ltd
Current assignee: N & B Calder Ltd
Priority date: 2018-07-06
Filing date: 2018-07-06
Publication date: 2020-01-08
Also published as: GB201811166D0

Abstract

A decorative memorial article 30, such as a piece of jewellery, and a method for forming such. The article 30 comprises a stone 28 of material, such as granite, extracted from a memorial stone. The stone 28 may include surfaces which are polished before or after extraction from the headstone. In the completed article 30, the ornamental stone 28 may be embedded into a setting 32 such as a bezel, prong, claw, burnish, channel, countersink, bar or flush setting. In the method of extracting the rock 28, a cylinder of material may be bored from the monument, optionally using a coring tool. The removal of this cylinder may form a decorative or functional feature of the gravestone, such as a feature for holding flowers. The stone 28 may be cut into several parts or into a required shape before incorporation into the article 30.

Description

DECORATIVE MEMORIAL ARTICLE AND METHOD FOR FORMING SAME

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a decorative memorial article and a method of forming the same.

BACKGROUND

Memorial stones, such as headstones, gravestones or tombstones, are commonly used to mark interment or remembrance sites. These offer a place for mourning and remembrance for those acquainted in life with the deceased, and can play a significant role in the grieving process. As the memorial stone marks an interment or remembrance site, it inherently has a geographical location, and may be difficult for acquaintances of the deceased to visit if they do not reside within reasonable proximity of that geographical location. The grieving process may therefore be more desolate for such acquaintances.

Memorial stones often have decorative elements such as shaped edges, engraving, and inbuilt flower holders. The decorative elements of a memorial stone are usually bespoke elements. A standard memorial stone will initially be formed, and then the decorative elements will be crafted to meet the bespoke requirements.

Memorial articles, particularly wearable decorative articles such as articles of jewellery, which contain some matter connected with the deceased, can bring comfort to a grieving acquaintance of the deceased. Such artefacts may have comprised a lock of hair from the deceased. However, depending on environmental factors, hair dissociated from the body may decompose within months or years.

More recently, there has been a trend for incorporating cremation remains (ie. ashes) into a piece of decorative glass for use in a memorial article.

SUMMARY

In a first aspect there is provided a method for forming a decorative memorial article, comprising removing material from a memorial stone, and incorporating at least part of the removed material into a decorative memorial article.

A memorial article formed using such a method may have significance, and bring comfort, to an acquaintance of the deceased remembered by the memorial stone, particularly when the acquaintance of the deceased does not reside within reasonable proximity to the geographical location of the memorial stone.

The method may further comprise the step of cutting the removed material before incorporating the at least part of the removed material into the decorative memorial article. The method may comprise cutting the removed material such that the at least part of the removed material to be incorporated into the decorative memorial article is a required shape and/or size. The method may comprise cutting the removed material into a plurality of parts. The method may comprise incorporating one or more of the plurality of parts into the decorative memorial article. The method may comprise incorporating one or more of the plurality of parts into one or more decorative memorial articles.

Memorial articles formed using such a method may allow for multiple memorial articles to be formed in connection with a single memorial stone. Furthermore, the memorial articles may comprise material of the memorial stone in a style, size and shape as desired by the acquaintance of the deceased.

The method may include removing material that has an existing polished surface. The method may include incorporating at least part of the existing polished surface into the decorative memorial article. The material of a memorial stone can often be arduous to polish. By using an already polished surface of the removed material to form a polished surface of the part of the removed material incorporated into the decorative memorial article, an attractive memorial article may be formed with reduced cost, time and effort in polishing the material.

The method may further comprise the step of polishing surfaces of the at least part of the removed material that are not the existing polished surface.

The memorial stone may be formed of igneous rock. The memorial stone may be formed of granite.

Granite is a strong and durable material, whilst also being aesthetically pleasing due its mineral composition and visible grain. By virtue of the properties of granite, the benefits of incorporating into a decorative memorial article a part of the removed material with an existing polished surface are recognised. Furthermore, the aesthetics of the granite are such that the part of the removed material to be incorporated into the decorative memorial article can be selected according to the taste of an acquaintance of the deceased for who the decorative memorial article may be formed.

The method may include setting the at least part of the removed material in metal. Setting the at least part of the removed material in metal may be done by at least one of bezel setting, prong setting, claw setting, burnish setting, channel setting, countersink setting, bar setting, flush setting etc. The metal may comprise a precious metal. The metal may comprise gold, silver, copper, platinum, palladium etc.

The method may comprise boring a cylinder of material from the memorial stone, for example using a coring tool.

The memorial stone may comprise a base portion. The method may comprise removing material from the base portion of the memorial stone.

The step of removing material from the memorial stone may form a decorative or functional feature of the memorial stone.

By incorporating into a memorial article part of the material removed from a memorial stone to form a decorative of functional feature of the memorial stone may allow for waste material, that would otherwise be discarded, to be recycled.

According to a second aspect there is provided a decorative memorial article comprising a decorative stone, wherein the stone comprises of material removed from a memorial stone.

Such a memorial article may have significance, and bring comfort, to an acquaintance of the deceased who is remembered by the memorial stone, particularly when the acquaintance of the deceased does not reside within reasonable proximity to the geographical location of the memorial stone.

The removed material may have an existing polished surface and the decorative stone may have a polished surface, wherein the polished surface of the decorative stone may comprise at least part of the existing polished surface of the removed material.

The material of a memorial stone can often be arduous to polish. By using an already polished surface of the removed material to form a polished surface of the decorative stone, an attractive memorial article may be formed with reduced cost, time and effort in polishing the material.

The material may an igneous rock. The material may be granite.

Granite is a strong and durable material, whilst also being aesthetically pleasing due its mineral composition and visible grain. By virtue of the properties of granite, the benefits of incorporating into a decorative memorial article a decorative stone with an existing polished surface are recognised. Furthermore, the aesthetics of the granite are such that the part of the removed material that forms the decorative stone can be selected according to the taste of an acquaintance of the deceased for who the decorative memorial article may be formed.

The decorative memorial article may further comprise a setting. The decorative stone may be set in the setting. The setting may be a metal setting. The metal may be a previous metal. The metal may comprise of gold, silver, copper, platinum, palladium etc. The setting may be at least one of a bezel setting, prong setting, claw setting, burnish setting, channel setting, countersink setting, bar setting, flush setting etc.

According to a third aspect there is provided a method of forming stone articles comprising removing material from an existing stone article to form a memorial stone, and using the removed material to form a decorative memorial article.

Any exemplary feature described may be combined with the aforementioned aspects of the invention, unless stated otherwise.

It will be understood that the features defined above or described below in relation to specific embodiments may be utilised either alone or in combination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

These and other aspects will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1a is an orthogonal view of a standard memorial stone;

Figure 1b is an orthogonal view of a bespoke memorial stone;

Figure 2a is an orthogonal view of a portion of material removed from the memorial stone of Figure 1;

Figure 2b is an orthogonal view of a surface layer of the portion of material of Figure 2a;

Figure 2c is an orthogonal view of a segment of the surface layer of Figure 2b;

Figure 3a is an orthogonal view of a necklace pendant including material removed from a memorial stone;

Figure 3b is an orthogonal view of a ring including material removed from a memorial stone; and

Figure 3c is an orthogonal view of a pair of cufflinks each including material removed from a memorial stone.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An exemplary method for forming a memorial article incorporating material from a memorial stone is described forthwith.

Referring to Figures 1a and 1b, bespoke features are formed in a standard memorial stone 10 (Figure 1a) to form a bespoke memorial stone 12 (Figure 1b). Each of the bespoke features require material to be removed from the standard memorial stone 10 to form the bespoke memorial stone 12. The memorial stone 10, 12 is formed of granite. Granite is an igneous rock. Granite is a strong durable material therefore the memorial stone is not likely to erode, disintegrate or become weather damaged. Granite is also aesthetically pleasing due its mineral composition and visible grain. The colours and pattern of the mineral composition and grain are particularly visible when the granite is polished.

The memorial stone 10, 12 has a base 14 and a die 16. The base 14 has a polished surface 22. In some examples, the die may also have polished surfaces. In the present example the bespoke features of the bespoke memorial stone 12 are a bore 18 in the base 14 and chamfered corners 20 on the die 16. A variety of other bespoke features may be formed in a standard memorial stone to form a bespoke memorial stone. The bore 18 may function as a vessel to hold flowers. The bore 18 is formed using a coring tool to remove a cylinder of material 24, as shown in Figure 2a.

Figure 2a shows the cylinder of material 24 removed from the standard memorial stone 10 to form the bore 18 in the bespoke memorial stone 12. The removed material 24 has an existing polished surface 22. When the cylinder of material 24 is integral with the base 14 in the standard memorial stone 10 (ie. before the cylinder of material 24 was removed to form the bore 18 in the bespoke memorial stone 12), the polished surface 22 of the cylinder of material 24 was part of the polished surface 22 of the base 14 of the standard memorial stone 10. The other surfaces of the removed material 24 that are not the existing polished surface 22 are unpolished and may have been marked by the coring tool in forming the bore 18.

Figure 2b shows a disc 26 may be cut from the removed material 24. The disc 26 shown is cut to a depth suitable for incorporating at least part of the removed material 24 into a decorative memorial article 30. The disc 26 includes the existing polished surface 22.

The disc 26 may be segmented to form a stone 28 to be incorporated into a decorative memorial article 30. The stone is formed of at least part of the removed material 24 (see Figure 2c). The disc 26 shown is segmented such that the stone 28 is suitably shaped and sized for being incorporated into a decorative memorial article 30 (see Figures 3a to 3c). In segmenting the disc 26 to form the stone 28, the existing polished surface 22 is also segmented, such that the stone 28 includes a part of the existing polished surface 22.

The disc 26 can be segmented in such a way as to form multiple stones 28 that are suitably shaped and sized for being incorporated into a decorative memorial article 30; particularly where it is desired to incorporate a part of the removed material 24 from one memorial stone 12 into multiple decorative memorial articles 30a, 30b, 30c, and/or it is desired to form a decorative memorial article 30b incorporating multiple stones 28a, 28b formed from the removed material 24. Each of the multiple stones 28a, 28b of the removed material 24 include a part of the existing polished surface 22.

As discussed, a stone 28 for incorporating into a decorative memorial article 30 includes an existing polished surface 22. The other surfaces of the stone 28 are initially unpolished following cutting of the stone 28 from the removed material 24. If a fully polished stone is aesthetically desired or functionally required for incorporation into the decorative memorial article 30, the initially unpolished surfaces of the stone 28 may be polished.

Polishing granite is an arduous task due to the aforementioned properties of the rock. By incorporating into the decorative memorial article 30 a stone 28 that has an existing polished surface 22, the time, cost and effort required for polishing the stone 28 for incorporation into the decorative memorial article 30 is reduced.

Figures 3a to 3c show examples of wearable decorative memorial articles 30 in which at least part of the removed material 24 has been incorporated. Each of the decorative memorial articles 30 comprises metal within which a stone 28 is set. Figure 3a shows a pendant necklace 30 in which there is incorporated a disc shaped stone 28. The setting 32 is a bezel setting. Figure 3b shows a ring 30 in which there is incorporated two generally cuboid shaped stones 28a, 28b. The setting 32 is a channel setting. Figure 3c shows a pair of cufflinks 30a, 30b. In each cufflink 30a, 30b there is incorporated a triangular prism shaped stone 28. The stones 28 in the pair of cufflinks 30a, 30b are formed from removed material 24 from the same memorial stone 12. The setting 32 is a prong setting, also known as a claw setting. The stones 28 of the decorative memorial articles 20 shown in Figures 3a to 3c may be set in metal, the metal may be a precious metal.

In other examples, the bespoke features of the bespoke memorial stone may include engraving, shaping the base and/or the die, multiple bores, etc. The bespoke features may be functional or decorative. The bespoke features may be formed by removing material from a standard memorial stone. Any material removed from the standard memorial stone to form the bespoke features, such as the material removed to form chamfered corners on the die, may be recycled by being incorporated into a decorative memorial article.

In other examples the top of the base, the front face of the die, or any other surface of a standard memorial stone may be a polished surface.

In other examples alternative cutting operations other than cutting a disc and segmenting the disc may be carried out to form from the removed material the desired number, size and shape of stones, for incorporation into the decorative memorial article. Fewer or more iterations of cutting the removed material than cutting a disc and segmenting the disc may be carried out to form the one or more stones. In some examples, no cutting operations may be carried out on the removed material before it is incorporated into the decorative memorial article.

In other examples the decorative memorial article may be another wearable decorative article such as earrings, a bracelet, an anklet, a brooch, a tie pin, a kilt pin, a hat pin, a hair accessory, a watch, etc. In other examples the decorative memorial article may be any other article such as a clock, a picture frame, a vase, an ornament, etc.

In other examples the part of the removed material incorporated into the decorative memorial article may be set in any type of metal using any type of setting. Other metals may include palladium, copper, etc. Other metal setting types may include burnish setting, countersink setting, bar setting, flush setting, etc. Alternatively, the part may be set in any other material such as ceramic, wood, etc. using any method. Other setting methods may include adhesive, screws, pins, etc.

It will be recognised that examples of the decorative memorial article and method of forming such provide a number of benefits. Material that has been removed from a standard memorial stone to form a bespoke memorial stone and would otherwise be discarded as waste is recycled in a way that may be beneficial to those grieving an interred acquaintance. Furthermore, the time, effort and cost of forming a decorative memorial article is minimised by recycling a part of the waste material that has an existing polished surface. In some examples, the decorative article may not be formed for a person grieving a deceased acquaintance as a memorial article. A decorative article may be formed using the method as a way of recycling waste material removed from a standard memorial stone in forming a bespoke memorial stone.

Various other modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method for forming a decorative memorial article, comprising:

removing material from a memorial stone; and incorporating at least part of the removed material into a decorative memorial article.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of cutting the removed material before incorporating the at least part of the removed material into the decorative memorial article

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising cutting the removed material such that the at least part of the removed material to be incorporated into the decorative memorial article is a required shape and/or size.

4. The method of claims 2 or 3 further comprising cutting the removed material into a plurality of parts.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising incorporating one or more of the plurality of parts into the decorative memorial article.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising incorporating one or more of the plurality of parts into one or more decorative memorial articles.

7. The method of any preceding claim comprising removing material that has an existing polished surface.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising incorporating at least part of the existing polished surface into the decorative memorial article.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of polishing surfaces of the at least part of the removed material that are not the existing polished surface, before incorporating the at least part of the removed material into the decorative memorial article.

10. The method of any preceding claim wherein the memorial stone is formed of igneous rock.

11. The method of any preceding claim wherein the memorial stone is formed of granite.

12. The method of any preceding claim comprising setting the at least part of the removed material in metal.

13. The method of any preceding claim comprising boring a cylinder of material from the memorial stone.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein boring a cylinder of material from the memorial stone is performed using a coring tool.

15. The method of any preceding claim wherein the memorial stone comprises a base portion.

16. The method of any preceding claim comprising removing material from the base portion of the memorial stone.

17. The method of any preceding claim wherein the step of removing material from the memorial stone forms a decorative or functional feature of the memorial stone.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of removing material from the memorial stone forms a feature for holding flowers.

19. A decorative memorial article comprising a decorative stone, wherein the stone comprises of material removed from a memorial stone.

20. A decorative memorial article according to claim 19 wherein the removed material has an existing polished surface and the decorative stone has a polished surface, wherein the polished surface of the decorative stone comprises at least part of the existing polished surface of the removed material.

21. The decorative memorial article of claim 19 or 20 wherein the material is an igneous rock, optionally wherein the material is granite.

22. The decorative memorial article of any of claims 19 to 21 further comprising a 5 setting, wherein the decorative stone is set in the setting.

23. The decorative memorial article of claim 22 wherein the setting is a metal setting, optionally wherein the metal is a precious metal.

10

24. The decorative memorial article of claim 23 wherein the setting is at least one of a bezel setting, prong setting, claw setting, burnish setting, channel setting, countersink setting, bar setting, flush setting.

25. A method of forming stone articles comprising:

15 removing material from an existing stone article to form a memorial stone, and using the removed material to form a decorative memorial article.