Colonial New England
Gravestone Symbols
1600-1700’s Early Americana Grave Symbols
Imagine skulls, crossbones, and winged cherubs to hourglasses, scythes, and stark death’s heads. 1600 -1700s New England gravestone symbols offer a powerful visual language of mortality, faith, warning, and salvation. This guide explores Colonial-era gravestone motifs and early American cemetery art commonly found in 17th- and 18th-century burial grounds.
These symbols are all sourced from real gravestone rubbings and are available to add to your Studio Commission for historical accuracy.
Colonial Willow
Hourglass with Bones
Cherub
18th-Century Weeping Willow and Urn
Death's Head (Winged Skull)
Death, Moon, and Sun
Five-Pointed Star
Skull and Crossbones
Skeleton and Hourglass Memento Mori
Memento Mori Clock
Moon and Stars
