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 McNeel’s “The Greatest Name In Stonecraft” has a section for horizontal monuments. On page 130 of this classic treatise is an illustrated memorial for the Morber Family. This stone appears to be marble, but granite would work just as well. As with all designs, you are not limited to the color of stone, and there is a wide range of choices.
The Morber Memorial Summarized
Tablet With Oval Top, And Three Rounds on Each End
The Morber monument is a horizontal monument, as it is longer than it is tall. The tablet has an oval top on the tablet, with three rounds on each end, as the monument tapers to the straight sides. Rounds are the term used to describe a stone edge that is curved like the inside segment of a loop.
Each of the first two rounds appear to have a 1 ½ - 2 inch drop before the third round that flows into the sides. A drop is the amount of space between the highest and lowest points of the round.
Triple Panels: Ogee Reverse Rounds
The two panels around the inside border on the face of the monument has three ornamental features that correspond to the rounds along the surface of the top of the monument.
Double Symmetrical Panels With Roses As Ornamentation In High Relief
The use of double recessed symmetrical panels is very attractive ornamentation. Double screens are an old practice to use a screen to sandblast deep. This is sometimes called lace carving.
The third panel for the family name with the raised letters is attractive molding.
The roses are in high relief. High relief sculpture is a style of ornamentation where the carving projects from the background to more than half its natural depth. The word sculpture means ‘to carve.’ The workmanship on this sculpture displays exceptional carving.
McNeel identifies the dimensions of the Morber design as follows:
McNeel provided three recommended size options for the Morber.
130.B
Morber
Z-3199
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A
4-6 x 0-10 x 2-0
5-6 x 1-6 x 0-6
B
5-2 x 1-0 x 2-4
6-4 x 1-10 x 0-8
C
6-0 x 1-2 x 2-8
7-4 x 2-0 x 0-8
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Tablet
Base
Tablet
Base
Tablet
Base
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Monument Dimensions Explained
McNeel’s suggested dimensions for the tablet are as follows:
Option A above is the smallest size shown, as it is 4 feet 6 inches long, 10 inches wide, 2 feet tall, with the base 5 foot 6 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 6 inches tall. Option B offers a 5 foot 2 inches long tablet, and is 12 inches wide by 2 feet 4 inches tall, with the base 6 feet 4 inches long by 1 foot 10 inches wide by 8 inches tall. Option C is 6 feet long, 14 inches wide, 2 feet 8 inches tall, with a base 7 foot 4 inches long, 2 feet wide, 8 inches tall. As with all designs, you can scale the monument design larger or smaller proportionally as your needs may require.
McNeel’s Comments on Symbolism
Symbolism invests memorials with a representative meaning to represent an abstract principle through the symbol. McNeel describes the symbolism for the McNeel design, stating that, “the broken Rose stem is symbolic of the death of one member of the family.” “ “Natural beauty is expressed in every detail of the Rose, which symbolizes Love. Our Lord and the Nativity.”
Final Comments
This attractive memorial has raised lettering for the family name, created by sinking the panel behind the name. Roses have become overused in cemeteries, with little, if any, thought to the symbolism of the emblem or decoration. However, I like this monument, as the roses are very detailed and in high relief with great detail expressed in every aspect of the rose. This would make a wonderful heirloom memorial that any family would cherish.
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