Gravestone Rubbings

The practice of creating an image by rubbing a material such as charcoal, wax or graphite on paper placed over the engraved surface of a gravestone in order to obtain the exact image of the stone's lettering and designs.

If you're interest is in genealogy or even just the art in your local cemetery you might want to learn more about gravestone rubbing. Some rubbings are works of art in their own right and are in the collections of galleries and museums. Gravestone rubbings were once very popular. Unfortunatey, many stones have been damaged by overzealous rubbing, as well as the natural decay from the elements. Repeated rubbings degrade the stones and can cause damage if done improperly. For an artist, gravestone rubbings can become an entire body of creative work that is framed and displayed.

Before you embark on this type of activity, consult online with The Association for Gravestone Studies Guide on the Do's and Don'ts of Gravestone Rubbings.