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 McNeel’s “The Greatest Name In Stonecraft” has a section for wing monuments. Wings are extensions outward from the main tablet of a monument. On page 196 of this classic treatise is an illustrated memorial for the Carlton Family. I think of the wing-shaped memorial as a centerpiece memorial that serves as a focal point for a family memorial.
The Carlton Memorial Summarized
Tablet
The Carlton has a serpentine top on the tablet, with checks on each end of the top of the tablet. The tablet is a vertical monument, as it is taller than it is wide.
Monuments with wings may be vertical or horizontal, and the Carlton has an exaggerated appearing vertical center tablet compared to many other wing-styled monuments.
Wings
The wings have a flat top with checks that provide good balance to the checks on the tablet. McNeel has used “checks” on the ends of the top of this monument to create an attractive memorial. Checks are created by a cut or recess in the stone, usually on the highest point or ends. Checks are a rabbet-shaped cutting, with rabbets being cuts that fit inside adjoining parts to fit together. The wings are somewhat symbolic of the horizontal portions that extend outward from the center of any cross.
McNeel identifies the dimensions of the Carlton as follows:
McNeel provided two recommended size options for the Carlton.
196
Carlton
Z-3316
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A
Length: 8-0
Height: 5-0
2-0 x 0-8 x 5-0
3-6 x 1-0 x 1-0
B
Length: 9-8
Height: 5-6
2-4 x 0-8 x 5-6
4-2 x 1-2 x 1-2
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Tablet
2 Wings
Tablet
2 Wings
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Monument Dimensions Explained
Note that, except for the wings, this design is similar to a monolith, which by definition has no base.
McNeel’s suggested dimensions for the tablet are as follows:
Option A above is the smallest size shown, as it is 2 feet long, 8 inches wide, 5 feet tall, with 3 foot 6-inch wings, 12 inches wide, and 1 foot tall.
Option B is larger, offering a 2 foot 4 inch long tablet, 8 inches width and 5 feet 6-inch height, with the two wings having the dimensions of 4 feet 2 inches by 1 foot 2 inches by 1 foot 2 inches tall.
Both designs have an 8-inch thickness. As with all designs, you can scale the basic design for the monument larger or smaller proportionally as your needs may require.
McNeel’s Comments
“This design is ideal for use where greater length is desired with a small expenditure.” In other words, this is a lower cost memorial.
Author’s Comments
This attractive memorial has sandblast sunk lettering for the family name. The flowers appear to be Pansies.
Markers
Individual markers, or small headstones, whether flush, beveled, slanted, or rounded to identify the individual family members, would fit well with the wing monument, serving as a larger monument and focal point for the family plot.
Gable-Top Horizontal Monument
The Washington memorial has a gable top design with the high point in the center, perpendicular to the front and back of the monument. This is a horizontal monument, as it is wider than it is tall. The sides are straight.
Flutes, Grooves or Skin Carving
Horizontal flutes are used as molding on the face of the memorial where the name is located.
Flutes are parallel grooves used for decoration. This decoration is called fluting, but might also be called flat carving or skin carving, defined as line carving on the surface of the stone.
Lines are used as embellishments for the molding, and as a divider for the panel that contains the epitaph.
Returns are the term used where there is an alteration of direction. The return for the molding occurs at the top of panel where the lines change from horizontal or vertical or vice versa.
The end members consist of the horizontal moldings, using checks to recess the stone.
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