Funeral Merchandising Lesson 4: Casket Components - Interior

What is the focal part of the casket interior which fills the inside of the crown and is sometimes bordered by the roll or cove?

The cap panel

In which type of casket are the rim, crown, and pies formed as one unit with a transverse cut in the cap forming a two-piece lid?

A half couch casket

Which term describes a casket in which the rim (ogee), crown, and pies are formed as one unit and which opens as one long lid?

A full couch casket

What are the panels called in a half couch casket?

The head panel and foot panel

What is the inner panel in a full couch casket?

A functional or ornamental covering that usually covers just the foot end of the casket

Under what circumstance might an inner panel be functional in a full couch casket?

To cover the foot end of the casket if the body needs to be partially hidden, such as following a long bone donation

What consists of a small strip of metal, plastic, or cloth attached to the inside of the panel that covers the area where the cove is anchored to the shell?

The fold or gimp

What is the primary purpose of the fold (gimp) in a casket interior?

To provide a smooth visual transition from the roll to the shell

Which interior component lines the rim (ogee) and surrounds the cap panel?

The cove, roll, or puffing

What is the aesthetic covering for the footcap or inner foot panel of a casket, often used for personalization embroidery?

The overlay, throw, or overthrow

What is the purpose of the extendover in a casket?

To cover the top body molding for aesthetic value and hide the gasket when the casket is open

Which component part of the overlay extends downward from the cap header into the body of the casket to conceal the decedent below the waist?

The apron

In wooden caskets, where is the apron more commonly attached if leaves the crown area open to view?

Attached to the undersurface of the foot panel

What components are used specifically to hide the hinges and make the casket look more appealing?

Hinge covers or skirts

What hardware is used to prop and hold a casket cap open for viewing?

A knee brace

What is the material that drapes the complete inside perimeter of the casket to ensure no interior surface of the shell material is seen?

Body linings

What are the four components that make up the bed of the casket?

The bed frame, the mattress, the mattress cover, and the optional blanket

What type of bed frame can be raised, lowered, or tilted on an axis?

An adjustable bed frame

What tool is inserted into the hexagon-shaped keyhole to rotate and adjust the bed frame?

A casket key or casket crank

What materials are typically used to construct the casket mattress or bedding?

Foam rubber pads and polyester blend materials

Why is a foot pillow usually not offered with half couch caskets?

Because the foot end of the casket is closed during viewing

What are the six common fabric weaves used for casket linings?

Crepe, velvet, satin, linen, twill, and muslin

Which fabric is a lightweight crinkled weave souvent found in lower-cost, non-gasketed $20$ gauge caskets?

Crepe

Which fabric weave has a short, closely woven nap and is found in higher-end caskets like the Promethean bronze?

Velvet

What kind of weave is satin, and what are its common raw materials?

A basic weave with a smooth lustrous surface, typically using silk, nylon, and polyester

Linen weave is also known as what type of weave?

Plain or tabby weave

From which plant is the vegetable fiber for linen weave derived?

The flax plant

How is twill weave easily identified?

By its diagonal weave lines

What are some examples of fabrics that use a twill weave?

Denim, herringbone, grabardine, broadcloth, chino, and houndstooth

Which fabric is a lightweight cotton in a plain weave often used as the lining in Orthodox Jewish caskets?

Muslin

What unique lining is used in the Batesville Barnett casket to attract hunters?

Duck cloth

What are the five most commonly found styles for casket interiors?

Shirred, crushed, tufted, tailored, and semi-tailored

Which style has material drawn in a parallel fashion using multiple needle heads when sewing?

Shirred

How is the crushed interior style created?

By placing lining material on a metal form, adding weight, and using steam to give it a permanent crushed appearance

Which interior style is created by placing padding between a lining and backing with stitches forming small raised puffs?

Tufted

What are the two specific names for tufting designs mentioned in the lecture?

Biscuit tufting (square) and Diamond tufting

What are tufting designs called when no buttons or eyes are visible?

Blind tufting

Which style features a tightly drawn look similar to menswear suits and is intended to look sharp and crisp?

Tailored

What brand is cited as a very high-end casket manufacturer that uses tailored or tufted fabrics, notably used for president Kennedy?

Marcellus caskets

What is a semi-tailored interior?

A combination of a tailored interior with one or more of the other styles

What is the purpose of backing or padding materials in a casket?

They provide a foundation, balance, depth, and form to the lining material

What are three natural or synthetic materials commonly used for interior backing and padding besides cardboard and cotton?

Plastic, masselin, and excelsior (wood wool)

What is masselin?

A pressed paper sheet used as backing or upholstery material

What is excelsior or wood wool?

Wood shredded or cut into spaghetti-like strips or strings

Where is excelsior commonly found outside of caskets according to the transcript?

In packaging or as filler for stuffed animals

In which part of the casket did the instructor see excelsior being used when handling a service for someone from Guyana?

Inside the mattress

What does a full couch extendover look like compared to a half couch one?

It is a compatible full-length extendover that drapes over the front and ends of the top body molding

How many fabric weaves are utilized in the Tapestry Rose by Batesville as standard embroidery points?

One rose on the throw and two on the cap panel

What material is often used behind the body panel to bring the fabric out and give it shape?

Plastic

When is the first exam for this course scheduled to occur?

Week $4$

Cap panel

The focal part of the interior which fills the inside of the crown and is sometimes bordered by the roll (cove).

Half couch

A casket in which the rim (ogee), crown, and pies are formed as one unit with a transverse cut in the cap, forming a two-piece lid.

Full couch

A casket in which the rim (ogee), crown, and pies are formed as one unit and which opens as one piece.

Head panel

A component part of the casket interior which is inside the head portion of the cap.

Foot panel

A component part of the casket which is inside the foot portion of the cap.

Inner panel

Functional or ornamental covering that usually covers the foot end of the casket in the full couch casket.

Fold (gimp)

A small strip of metal, plastic, or cloth attached to the inside of the panel that covers the area where the cove is anchored to the shell.

Cove (roll or puffing)

A component part of the casket interior which lines the rim (ogee) and surrounds the cap panel.

Overlay (Throw, Overthrow)

The aesthetic covering for the foot cap or inner foot panel of a casket.

Extendover

A component that covers the top body molding for aesthetic value and visual effect.

Apron

A component part of the overlay that extends downward from the cap header and into the body of the casket.

Hinge covers (skirts)

Material employed to conceal the heavy-duty hinges that affix the head and foot caps to the casket body.

Body linings

Material which drapes the complete inside perimeter of the casket to ensure no interior surface of the shell material is exposed.

Adjustable beds

Bed frames engineered with a mechanism allowing the funeral director to make variable changes in the height as needed.

Knee Brace

Hardware used to prop and hold a casket cap open for viewing.

Crepe

A lightweight, crinkled fabric weave often made from silk, wool, or synthetic fibers.

Velvet

A fabric weave with a short, closely woven nap that presents a smooth, soft finish.

Satin

A basic weave with a smooth lustrous surface used with silk, nylon, and polyester raw materials.

Linen weave

Also called plain or tabby weave, it is recognized for strength, coolness, and luster.

Twill weave

A fabric style easily identified by its diagonal weave lines and notable for its strength and durability.

Muslin weave

A lightweight cotton in a plain weave that is often used as the lining in Orthodox Jewish caskets.

Shirred

Fabric style where the material is drawn or gathered in a parallel fashion by means of a multiple needle head sewing process.

Crushed

Interior style created by placing the lining on a metal form, adding weights, and using steam to give a permanent rumpled appearance.

Tufted

Style created by placing padding between a lining and a backing material, with subsequent stitches forming small raised puffs.

Tailored

A tightly drawn interior style optimized to follow the contours of the underlying surface, presenting a sharp, crisp appearance.