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'This huge casket, which is 20 metres long, six metres wide and six metres high, is decorated with wreaths and dozens of normal-sized coffins. Morbid diners can browse the funeral paraphernalia before ordering from a menu that includes "Nine Day" and "Forty Day" salads - named after local mourning rituals - and an ominous-sounding dish called "Let's meet in paradise". The coffin restaurant, called Eternity, is the work of a funeral parlour in the town of Truskavets, in the west of the country near the Polish border. The undertakers hope that their restaurant will be confirmed as the world’s biggest coffin, attracting tourists to a region best known for its mineral-rich bathing waters. "It's our director Stepan Pyrianyk who had the idea," said Andri, one of those behind the new enterprise. "He loves his work and reckons the project will bring tourists to Truskavets.'''-- Telegraph.co.uk
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Vic Fearn and Co.
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'Vitaly Malyukov, a Russian inventor, has designed caskets outfitted with alarm buttons for those buried alive by mistake. His invention includes a circular device (containing special membranes), which is mounted in a casket. Should a person recover consciousness, he will spot it right away because the device will be glowing red. A person buried alive will have to press that "alarm button" to raise the alarm at a control panel in the office of a cemetery caretaker. The alarm is designed to show which grave have signs of life, so to speak. No word on pricing or availability as of yet.'-- New Launches
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Joe Scanlan
DIY or How to Kill Yourself Anywhere in the World for Under $399
Gent, Belgium: Imschoot. 2002
Synopsis: Book providing complete diagrams for obtaining ten items from Ikea to be utilized in preparing your own funeral – inclusive of flower arrangements and a coffin. Using simple tools and just about no skills, you too can do-it-yourself for under $399 in just about any major city in the world. Basic hand tools, taxes, cell phone roaming charges, and embalming not included. Highly recomended in these troubled times. Add it to your wishlist
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Vic Fearn and Co.
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IMPROVED BURIAL-CASE
US Patent No. 81,437
Issued: August 25, 1868
Inventor: Franz Vester, Newark NJ
"The nature of this invention consists in placing on the lid of the coffin, and directly over the face of the body laid therein, a square tube, which extends from the coffin up through and over the surface of the grave, said tube containing a ladder and a cord, one end of said cord being placed in the hand of the person laid in the coffin, and the other end of said cord being attached to a bell on the top of the square tube, so that, should a person be interred ere life is extinct, he can, on recovery to consciousness, ascend from the grave and the coffin by the ladder; or, if not able to ascend by said ladder, ring the bell, thereby giving an alarm, and thus save himself from premature burial and death; and if, on inspection, life is extinct, the tube is withdrawn, the sliding door closed, and the tube used for a similar purpose. . . "
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Dodger Blue Coffin Couch
'We at Coffincouches.com have the mindset of thinking "Green" and we know it is different but we strongly believe in recycling. Our niche happens to be 18 gauge steel coffins which we collected from local funeral homes primarily in Southern California. It is a health and safety law that funeral homes cannot resell used coffins to the general public. We approached funeral directors with the attitude of recycling. These coffins are not used for burial due to slight cosmetic inconsistencies. They are reconfigured and modified resulting in a finished product - a unique one a kind coffin couch. If you notice (although it may be too small) the six cast iron heavy duty legs are embossed with the universal biohazard insignia. The reason we utilize this sign is because safety is our utmost concern. If you are not aware, once a human body is placed in a coffin it is considered biohazard tissue. The legs have the embossed insignia for precautionary reasons in the event body fluids are exchanged on these coffins. Perhaps you would feel safe knowing that you are in designated biohazard scene.'
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'A trio of Brooklyn College graduate students believe they can turn the collective unrest of the City into beautiful music. Jared Mezzocci, David Gladden and Tara Gladden have constructed an enormous coffin, roughly eight-feet high by four-feet wide, and are calling on New Yorkers to place within the casket that which they want to see dead. Intended to be a living work of art demonstrating that evil can be turned to good, the piece, entitled “Coffin It Up,” will be taken around the City so that those who come across it can write on its interior things they would like to see dead. At the end of its tour the coffin will be sealed and turned into a cello-like instrument, to be played at an as-yet-determined concert venue. The idea, said David Gladden, is to turn negative energy into positive song.'-- Village Voice
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Vic Fearn and Co.
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'For the Ga tribe in coastal Ghana, funerals are a time of mourning, but also of celebration. The Ga people believe that when their loved ones die, they move on into another life -- and the Ga make sure they do so in style. They honor their dead with brightly colored coffins that celebrate the way they lived. The coffins are designed to represent an aspect of the dead person's life -- such as a car if they were a driver, a fish if their livelihood was the sea -- or a sewing machine for a seamstress. They might also symbolize a vice -- such as a bottle of beer or a cigarette.'-- GhanaWeb
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Uono, a Köln-based coffin manufacturer, offers The Cocoon, designed by Andreas Spiegel. Lightweight (20kg) and made from a soy-based resin and lined with jute, the coffin decomposes in 10-15 years and can also be used for cremation.You'll rest comfortably in the white cotton or silk liner. It features a water-based varnish and is CO2 neutral. The coffins are finished by hand are available in 14 colors, or use their Haute Couture program to design custom color of your choice. You can pre-order your coffin so your loved ones won't have to lay you to rest in something less aesthetically pleasing. Delivery is 3 days in Germany, and shipping elsewhere will take more time. The Cocoon will cost you (or your loved ones) $3,500.'-- CoolHunting.com
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Combining ideas of early gothic architecture and simple line to create this dynamic and powerful structure. Comes apart quickly to create your final place of rest. Made with birch veneer, solid birch, pine, with burgundy velvet bedding. After the casket is removed the remaining two sides slide together and can be used for years to come. $6495 from CasketFurniture.com
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Cofanifunebri'com's 2008 Coffin Calendar
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'This year for its annual Halloween makeover event Fright Fest, Six Flags is introducing the creepy Coffin of Fear. For this new Fright Fest attraction, the squeamish need not apply. Each participating guest will lie in a coffin which will be filled with meal worms then sent on a terrifying journey through a maze packed with monsters, ghosts, shocks, and horrors. Guests must remain in the mealwormy coffin for the duration of the three minute ride in order to win a prize.'-- SixFlags.com
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'A trio of Brooklyn College graduate students believe they can turn the collective unrest of the City into beautiful music. Jared Mezzocci, David Gladden and Tara Gladden have constructed an enormous coffin, roughly eight-feet high by four-feet wide, and are calling on New Yorkers to place within the casket that which they want to see dead. Intended to be a living work of art demonstrating that evil can be turned to good, the piece, entitled “Coffin It Up,” will be taken around the City so that those who come across it can write on its interior things they would like to see dead. At the end of its tour the coffin will be sealed and turned into a cello-like instrument, to be played at an as-yet-determined concert venue. The idea, said David Gladden, is to turn negative energy into positive song.'-- Village Voice
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Vic Fearn and Co.
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15.
'For the Ga tribe in coastal Ghana, funerals are a time of mourning, but also of celebration. The Ga people believe that when their loved ones die, they move on into another life -- and the Ga make sure they do so in style. They honor their dead with brightly colored coffins that celebrate the way they lived. The coffins are designed to represent an aspect of the dead person's life -- such as a car if they were a driver, a fish if their livelihood was the sea -- or a sewing machine for a seamstress. They might also symbolize a vice -- such as a bottle of beer or a cigarette.'-- GhanaWeb
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Uono, a Köln-based coffin manufacturer, offers The Cocoon, designed by Andreas Spiegel. Lightweight (20kg) and made from a soy-based resin and lined with jute, the coffin decomposes in 10-15 years and can also be used for cremation.You'll rest comfortably in the white cotton or silk liner. It features a water-based varnish and is CO2 neutral. The coffins are finished by hand are available in 14 colors, or use their Haute Couture program to design custom color of your choice. You can pre-order your coffin so your loved ones won't have to lay you to rest in something less aesthetically pleasing. Delivery is 3 days in Germany, and shipping elsewhere will take more time. The Cocoon will cost you (or your loved ones) $3,500.'-- CoolHunting.com
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Combining ideas of early gothic architecture and simple line to create this dynamic and powerful structure. Comes apart quickly to create your final place of rest. Made with birch veneer, solid birch, pine, with burgundy velvet bedding. After the casket is removed the remaining two sides slide together and can be used for years to come. $6495 from CasketFurniture.com
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Cofanifunebri'com's 2008 Coffin Calendar
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'This year for its annual Halloween makeover event Fright Fest, Six Flags is introducing the creepy Coffin of Fear. For this new Fright Fest attraction, the squeamish need not apply. Each participating guest will lie in a coffin which will be filled with meal worms then sent on a terrifying journey through a maze packed with monsters, ghosts, shocks, and horrors. Guests must remain in the mealwormy coffin for the duration of the three minute ride in order to win a prize.'-- SixFlags.com
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p.s. Hey. My short vacation from the blog doesn't mean you're spared from my proclivity to bring the topic of Halloween into this location on the blogosphere every few days. In 2008, I thought this post was appropriately Halloween-y, and, given that I'm reposting it, I must still think so. Enjoy, hopefully.