Death and everything connected with it is not a reason for creativity and self-affirmation, however there are individuals who want to make a challenge to her. And there are companies ready to fulfill their whims - to make expensive unusual coffins (in the USA, Italy, Great Britain, Germany and Ghana).
The origins of the "fashion" for custom coffins
The reason for combining the funeral ritual and creativity was the case that occurred in the middle of the last century in Ghana. The local ruler came up with the idea to order a luxurious eagle-shaped palanquin. Everything would be fine, only the order was delivered to the addressee on the day of his death. The relatives of the deceased decided to combine these two events - they buried him in this box, previously equipped with a lid.
Since the funeral was public, many saw the unusual last refuge. Since then, Ghana has become the birthplace of curly sarcophagi. The most expensive coffins in the country were just such, but now 10 specialized workshops of the state are ready to offer their products at more affordable prices. A middle-income citizen can save up the amount to buy in about a year ($ 500-600).
Abebuu adeka (a box with proverbs), as the coffin is called in Ghana, should show what was most important for a person during his lifetime. Motorists are buried in a coffin, a mother with many children in a coffin, and a fisherman in a fish. The most demanded are sarcophagi in the form of a cow, snail, spoon, elephant, church, pineapple and machine gun. The creations of one of the oldest masters of coffin, Canet Cavey, are exhibited even in the center of Georges Pompidou (Paris). However, the most expensive coffin in the world today was exhibited in Malaysia, in Kuala Lumpur. This solid mahogany item with chic velvet upholstery costs $ 36,400.
Undertaking in the UK
Surprisingly, the primitive England, namely Vic Fearn & Co, which ventured to make the most unusual and most expensive coffins (5000 pounds against 400 for a standard coffin), was one of the first to adopt African tradition. Her first product was the "last house" in the form of a container with beer. Then came the turn of the hot dog with wooden onions and mustard and a glass sarcophagus with removable lid.
And Creative Coffins, another representative of coffin production in England, also makes the most environmentally friendly coffins - from dense multilayer cardboard. On the material at the request of the customer imprint the image. It can be a portrait of the deceased or flowers, animals, inscriptions. English humor does not lose its relevance here too: they order an image of a box of chocolates, cans of peas - "Rest in Peace" (peas / peace).
The most expensive coffins in the USA
Bert and Bud’s Vintage Coffins make each of their products according to individual designs and only by hand. John Paul II was buried in the cypress sarcophagus of this company in the form of a trapeze. The company undertakes the manufacture of coffins: bottles, benches with cushions, shelves with services and decorated with Santa. The assortment also has bowls for cremation: with a lid-cucumber, in the shape of a banana and a glass of Martini.
Batesville (until the recent Malaysian record) made the most expensive coffin in the world ($ 25,000) - the golden Prometheus for Michael Jackson. Of the 14-carat gold, of course, only the finish was made, the sarcophagus itself was made of bronze, and inside it was upholstered with blue velvet.
In Germany and Italy
The German company Uono is the creator of Cocoon, a sarcophagus worth about $ 3,500. The most expensive coffins in the country have simply unimaginable forms. "Cocoon" is made of jute and covered with water enamel - these components dissolve without a trace in the soil after ten years. Its shape is a futuristic spaceship, an elongated egg. Minimalist design should inspire humility and calm before meeting with Eternity.
The company Capsula Mundi (Italy) went the farthest, changing the concept of funeral itself. The deceased in the fetal position is placed in a capsule-egg made of bioplastics. Then this container is placed in the ground, and in its upper part a tree sprout is planted, which will develop and thrive, fertilizing itself with the decaying body of the deceased. Thus, death gives rise to life.
Not for everyone, a funeral is a sad and frightening event. Someone finally wants to make a joke of nobility, someone - to show themselves, and someone - to build their business on these desires.