This design features a rubbing from the gravestone of the stillborn son of Rev. Otis Lane and his wife Abigail P., buried in the Old Burial Ground, Sturbridge, Massachusetts. The stone, dated March 13, 1803, is attributed to the Fisher/Farrington shop—a family of carvers whose collaborative work shaped the gravestone art of colonial New England well into the early 19th century.
The Fisher/Farrington shop included multiple members of the Fisher family—Samuel Sr., Samuel Jr., Lewis, James, and Timothy—alongside Daniel Farrington, Samuel Sr.’s brother-in-law. Together, they developed a distinctive regional style recognized for its charmingly animated soul effigies: rounded faces with almond-shaped eyes, softly expressive features, and downward-folded wings reminiscent of a dog’s ears. Many of their designs incorporated scalloped half-circle shapes to form torsos and wing bases, giving the figures a sculptural, layered appearance.
I’ve adapted a vintage gravestone rubbing of this effigy into a silkscreen, then printed it onto speckled gray slipcast stoneware, cast from a vintage mold and fired raw (unglazed) for a velvety matte finish. Available in two sizes, each jar is a contemporary tribute to colonial gravestone carving across New York and New England, highlighting the distinct regional styles and individual artistry of early carvers.
The larger jar measures approximately 3.5 inches in diameter and 6.5 inches tall with the lid on.
The smaller jar measures approximately 3 inches in diameter and 5.5 inches tall with the lid on.
This design features a rubbing from the gravestone of the stillborn son of Rev. Otis Lane and his wife Abigail P., buried in the Old Burial Ground, Sturbridge, Massachusetts. The stone, dated March 13, 1803, is attributed to the Fisher/Farrington shop—a family of carvers whose collaborative work shaped the gravestone art of colonial New England well into the early 19th century.
The Fisher/Farrington shop included multiple members of the Fisher family—Samuel Sr., Samuel Jr., Lewis, James, and Timothy—alongside Daniel Farrington, Samuel Sr.’s brother-in-law. Together, they developed a distinctive regional style recognized for its charmingly animated soul effigies: rounded faces with almond-shaped eyes, softly expressive features, and downward-folded wings reminiscent of a dog’s ears. Many of their designs incorporated scalloped half-circle shapes to form torsos and wing bases, giving the figures a sculptural, layered appearance.
I’ve adapted a vintage gravestone rubbing of this effigy into a silkscreen, then printed it onto speckled gray slipcast stoneware, cast from a vintage mold and fired raw (unglazed) for a velvety matte finish. Available in two sizes, each jar is a contemporary tribute to colonial gravestone carving across New York and New England, highlighting the distinct regional styles and individual artistry of early carvers.
The larger jar measures approximately 3.5 inches in diameter and 6.5 inches tall with the lid on.
The smaller jar measures approximately 3 inches in diameter and 5.5 inches tall with the lid on.
