History of gravestone photography

When visiting the graves of loved ones, we want to remember, at least for a moment, their smile, the twinkle in their eye or the joy they had when they were alive. Commemorating the image of a person who has left our world is a tradition that has its origins in ancient Egypt. How is it that it has remained with us to this day in the form of a gravestone photograph on porcelain, crystal or a three-dimensional portrait on ceramics? Learn about the history of cemetery culture, which nowadays makes it possible to use modern technology in our daily work on our realizations!

History of tombstone portraits

The burial of the dead has long been associated with private, religious and social ceremonies, and decorating graves with portraits of the dead was an important part of this. History shows that once the effigies concerned the wealthy dead and were hand-crafted coffin portraits. They appeared in this form already in ancient Egypt, but they also made their mark in our country. They were an integral part of Sarmatian culture and art and were small works of painting from the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries.

The history of gravestone photography - a step into the modern era!

The next step in memorializing loved ones was the transition from classical portraits to ceramic photographs. The history of photoceramics began with the end of the 19th century, where it was used to beautify monuments to famous personalities. A little later, ceramic marking began to move into the applied arts and be used in memorializing the deceased from different social classes.

What does contemporary gravestone photography look like?

Among the original methods used in memorializing the deceased is the collodion technique, which involves applying a photograph using a special film to the surface of a chosen ceramic material and firing it in a kiln. Nowadays, this process uses equipment that transfers pigment to the chosen material, creating a high-quality likeness on porcelain or crystal.

At Betimo studio, we strive to cultivate tradition and introduce modern and, above all, durable solutions to provide you with high-quality cemetery ornaments or commemorative photos on crystal. Check out our realizations and full offer for retail and corporate clients!