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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: sydpinman on Saturday 19 July 14 02:52 BST (UK)
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Hi
I wasn't sure which section to post this under but someone might be able to help.
This gravestone belongs to one of my relatives.
Can anyone take a guess at what's behind the box. I've blown the photo up but still can't work it out.
Fingers crossed.
Cheers
Phil
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How fascinating!
Is it just the photo or does the inscription look amateurishly carved? How is the 'box' attached to the outside of the stone? Iis it recessed? Is the 'box' marble ? I wonder if it was purely decorative with nothing behind it.
I wonder if the church holds any records of burials and descriptions of stones? May be some clues there.
I know it would not be right and I would never do it, but if it were my ancestor the temptation to have a little poke around would be very great. ;)
Added: Looking again, is the box hollow do you think? Whereabouts is James buried?
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Hi
It's typical of old Irish gravestones, the name is crudely carved. It says James Meenaghan.
What you see is the same the same for me. There is no church there, it's from Pollatomish cemetery in Co. Mayo. The picture is from http://goldenlangan.com/graves-pt.html
I'm guessing its a plastic box with something eerie looking inside it. One of my English cousins is going over there in October (I'm in Oz), she'll certainly have a look at it if she gets the chance.
Thanks for your help.
Cheers
Phil
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It could be a rather weathered perspex case containing a head and shoulders photograph, with some object or damage in front of the face.
Philip
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Hi Phil
From one Philip to another.
I hope you are right, I also thought it might be a photograph.
This could be very interesting.
Cheers
Phil
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I think that's an excellent suggestion re Perspex case. It does look like how Perspex cracks. It has a head shoulders shape to it inside., if it was higher up you'd think there was a persons reflection. There's another shape inside. I would be itching to look at it I must admit. Another suggestion some religious type ornament. I wonder how far back into the stone the object goes, it's difficult to tell.
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I think that's an excellent suggestion re Perspex case. It does look like how Perspex cracks. It has a head shoulders shape to it inside., if it was higher up you'd think there was a persons reflection. There's another shape inside. I would be itching to look at it I must admit. Another suggestion some religious type ornament. Have you tried googling for the place where the stone is?
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The box itself seems to have separate sides, the front and top looks to be a single piece, bent and slightly round at the bend. So Perspex is a good call.
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Good morning,
Inside the "box" is a pressed tin or base metal picture frame similar to below. They are usually given a gilt type finish or a pewter colouring. It is mounted on a small square plinth.
The "box" could also be a block of resinous material with the frame set inside. Resin goes that colour when left in the sun for a long period of time. The crack at top left appears to go a long way in.
John915
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I wondered if it was a 'death mask' !!! eerie, ghostly impression on that box..
xin
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So presumably, if it is Perspex, it is a much later addition.
(You seem very certain John - have you seen this kind of thing before? :))
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I keep returning for another look at the photo - I am intrigued!
I am becoming drawn to the idea that it could be resin (either solid or hollowed out like a tray), but the crack on the face does not appear to extend onto the top.
Can you tell us when James Meenaghan died? This could help narrow down the possibilities. Although there is no guarantee that the gravestone and the box are of the same date the likelihood would be that the box was added within a few years.
All the best
Philip
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Good evening,
If it was Perspex I would expect to be able to see the edge of the side pieces through the front. In much the same way as glass when you look at a fish tank for instance.
The top of this appears to have edges but I think the corners are bevelled off. I still go with a block of resin.
John915
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Sorry I can't find a date of death for him.
I've blown the picture up to 5X normal size and I can see some sort of holy picture in the background. I still can't work out what the skull like thing is.
This is driving me mad. ;)
Forgot to mention.
They are not cracks in the plastic, its some sort of cord or string, if you look closely you can see that it comes outside the box, bottom left hand side.
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Maybe --- ;) he was trying to escape ! :) and they blocked his exit route.. ;D ;D sorry
xin
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Blowing up the picture helps.
Its a holy statue inside, look at the bottom you see the square base of the statue.
The crack at the top isn't, its the lining that has fallen, you can tell as you see the lining on the LHS.