Antique 19th Century Funeral Hardware Feathered Palm Funeral Motif c.1870–1890 This cast iron coffin handle features a beautifully detailed central emblem of crossed palm branches beneath stylized feathered fronds. Palm branches were among the most enduring symbols used in Victorian funerary art, representing victory over death, eternal life, and the promise of resurrection. The feather-like fronds echo the same heavenly imagery found throughout Victorian cemetery sculpture, memorial jewelry, and coffin furniture.
Surviving coffin handles entered the collectors' market through undertakers, funeral home inventories, architectural salvage, or cemetery maintenance during the twentieth century. Obsolete hardware was removed from deteriorated or abandoned furnishings.
Details
Origin: Europe
Date: Circa 1870–1890
Material: Heavy cast iron
Decoration: Crossed palm branches with stylized feathered fronds and Victorian scrollwork
Dimensions: Appx: 8 inches wide, 4.5 inches tall
Condition: Honest antique condition with original surface wear, oxidation, and age-related rust. The handle moves freely. Please examine all photographs carefully.
