Old Tombstone, Folk art tombstone in Hollins, Virginia
Old Tombstone is a sandstone monument with a carved head and torso of a child on top, measuring roughly 4 feet long, 2.6 feet (79 cm) wide, and 1.6 feet (49 cm) thick. The piece sits in the cemetery near Plantation Road and stands out for its distinctive sculptural design among typical grave markers.
This marker was created in 1805 by Virginia-German carver Laurence Krone and marks the grave of Robert Denton in the Tombstone Cemetery. The original decorative lid vanished in 1967, leading to protective measures being put in place.
The monument displays text in three languages - German, English, and Latin - showing the multilingual world of early Virginia settlers. This mix of languages tells you about the diverse community that lived in this region.
The cemetery sits in a rural setting near Plantation Road and is best accessed on foot. A protective cage and roof installed by the Hollins Lions Club allow you to view the monument while keeping it safeguarded from handling.
This monument represents a rare example of New England style funerary art found in Southwest Virginia during the early 1800s, which makes it unusual for the region. The focus on a child as the main subject of a grave sculpture was uncommonly seen in this area at that time.
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