It looks so beautiful: use an old tombstone, engrave it again, and voila: the stone is ready for reuse. It can, and sometimes happens – but this circular solution often fails due to financial problems. A reused stone is almost as expensive as a new one. And that is why the sheds are overflowing with old stones.
Funerary monuments seem to be made for eternity, until a grave is cleared. Then they are ground into rubble and used as a foundation for a road. Ilse Maes of Lavertu stonemasonry finds that a mortal sin and gives old tombstones a second life.
Under the name ‘Circle Stone’, stonemasons and cemeteries work together to give discarded tombstones a second life. Relatives are often pleased that the natural stone monument is not destroyed. But because it is very expensive to reuse an old stone, there is currently little demand.
It won’t save thousands of euros
According to Ilse, this may be due to unfamiliarity. Many people don’t know it exists. But she admits that the price of a second-hand headstone plays a role in this. A second-hand stone is hardly cheaper than a new one. ‘We have quite a lot of work to do,’ says Ilse, ‘so you don’t have to do it for the money.’ People do it for their own feeling and for sustainability.
A grave monument is a personal place for relatives to commemorate the deceased. A tangible reminder to go and express your feelings. And tombstones are also subject to fashion trends. At the moment, the demand is mainly for natural, unpolished headstones, while the stones on offer are often made of smooth, polished granite.
No second-hand jeans
According to Ilse, a recycled stone can also fit very well with people who attach less value to outward splendor, but consciously deal with mother nature and opt for simplicity. In any case, it remains a subject that involves a lot of feeling and emotion. ‘It’s not a pair of jeans that you buy second-hand,’ says Ilse.
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