Immortelles – the name means everlasting – were grave ornaments. They were in use mainly in the Victorian and Edwardian era.
Delicate china flowers are mounted on a base. This is covered with a glass dome to make it weather proof and finally a wire cage houses that.
An Immortelle - a grave ornament - at Market Lavington Museum
We believe the immortelle we have is probably Edwardian. It was in the churchyard until the 1930s.
None remain in the churchyards of Market Lavington or Easterton, but our curator recently found some in a Welsh churchyard.
Immortelles at Eglwys Llanfinhangel
These items do not seem to be well documented. Any extra information would be well received.
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Tags: Easterton, Market Lavington, Museum, Religion
January 26, 2015 at 2:58 pm |
Brecknock museum have three very similar ones. The curator is Nigel Blackamore
January 26, 2015 at 3:37 pm |
I think of immortelles as being Welsh. I see plenty in grave yards in Wales but don’t see them not so far away in Wiltshire.
January 26, 2015 at 6:10 pm |
Actually we have 4 in the collection, 3 from Llywel Churchyard, the other unprovenanced. Sadly very little info to go with them and we are missing the protective metal cloche you illustrate. If I come up with anything I’ll drop you a line and tweet it @brecknockmuseum
January 27, 2015 at 8:31 am |
Thanks Nigel. Am I right in thinking they are particularly Welsh?
Rog
Curator
January 27, 2015 at 10:19 am
To be honest, I don’t know – they don’t appear to have a particularly Welsh content – white doves etc. Maybe its to do with smaller communities and better preservation/graveyards less disturbed and better survival rates- If I come across anything I will let you know.
All best
Nigel
June 16, 2015 at 10:53 am |
[…] also reminded me of grave immortelles something I had come across previously during some research. Long lasting porcelain flower displays […]
June 16, 2015 at 11:09 am |
Thanks for the link. I can certainly see why your polyester flower reminded you of immortelles.
Rog
Curatod
January 7, 2018 at 11:03 am |
I recently went to a church by my cousins and took pictures of these domed flowers they are so beautiful. Church near Lampeter.
February 23, 2018 at 2:49 pm |
I know of two welsh churchyards which have them, never seen them anywhere else.
August 24, 2018 at 2:51 am |
I have seen them in many of the chapel graveyards around Lampeter.
May 21, 2019 at 8:15 am |
There are remains of at least 32 immortelles in the Llanbadarn Road municipal cemetery, all but one under hemispherical glass domes (but only 14 of the domes are complete). I cannot say that they are unique to Wales, but the custom of placing flowers either after the funeral and on certain dates after it, and also on Palm Sunday (or occasionally on Easter Sunday) was unique to Wales until the creation of ‘garden’ cemeteries on the edges of towns in England from the 1830s. see my web site: https://sublimewales.wordpress.com/material-culture/buildings/churchyards/flowers-on-graves/
Michael
May 21, 2019 at 8:16 am |
Forgot to say that Llanbadarn Road cemetery is between Aberystwyth and Llanbadarn Fawr.
May 21, 2019 at 8:28 pm |
I’ve just seen 28 immortelles in Strata Florida church grave yard but none at Tregaron, Lampeter and Llanrhystud churchyards.