FNM III Everything caskets (parts, finishes, interiors) Glossary

Apron

the lining attached to the undersurface of the foot panel of the casket and/or a component part of the throw (overlay) which extends downward into the body of the casket.

Arm

the part of the casket handle that attaches the bar to the lug (ear).

Axed

(steeled, frosted) is a smooth non-polished finish for stone monuments and markers achieved by sandblasting a polished finish with steel shot or other abrasives.

Bail Handle

a single handle is which the lug, arm, and bar are combined in one unit.

Bar

a part of the casket handle attached to the lug or arm and held by a casket bearer when moving and positioning a casket.

Base

the lower or supporting part of a monument. In some monuments, there may be a first, second, and third base.

Base molding

molding along the lowermost edge of the body panels.

Bed

the portion of the casket upon which the human remains are placed.

Body

the lower portion of the casket shell containing the top body molding, body panel, base molding, and casket bottom.

• Receives and holds dead bodies

Body ledge (top body molding)

a molding along the uppermost edge of the body panels

Body ledge flange (top body molding flange)

the horizontal portion of the top body molding (body ledge) where the gasket is placed on gasketed caskets

Body lining

material which drapes the inside perimeter of the body of the casket

Body panels

compose the sides and ends of the casket shell.

Bridge (header, cap filler)

Component part of the cap (lid) on half couch caskets that provides support at the point of the transverse cut

• Transverse piece located underneath the split of the cap, on both the head and the foot panel of a half couch casket

Broadcloth

a twilled, napped, woolen or worsted fabric with a smooth lustrous face and dense texture; a fabric usually made of cotton, silk, or rayon woven in a plain or rib weave with a softsemi-gloss finish.

Brushed finish

bare metal is scratched with an abrasive material and then finished until a smooth high gloss is obtained.

Cap (lid)

the upper portion of the casket shell, including the ogee, crown, pie, and header.

Cap panel

the focal part of the interior which fills the inside of the crown, sometimes bordered by the roll (cove); may be referred to as the panel.

Corner

an optional part of casket hardware that is attached to the four comers of the body panel.

• Aesthetic in nature, and functional as well

• Can be interchangeable according to style or design

Casket Bottom

simply, the bottom of the casket. Usually this is reinforced

Cove (roll, puffing)

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

• Elevated rounded border surrounding the cap panel

Crepe

a thin crinkled cloth of silk, rayon, cotton, or wool.

Crinkled (wrinkled) finish

An exterior casket finish in which the metal is coated with a substance that wrinkles as it dries; most often found on less expensive caskets.

Crown (swell)

the uppermost part of the casket cap.

Crushed interior

a casket interior style created by placing the lining material on a metal form, then adding weights, and using steam to permanently maintain the style. Casket interior cloths are then attached to a suitable casket upholstery (backing material.)

Doeskin (moleskin)

a heavy durable cotton fabric with a short (1/8th inch or less), thick, velvety nap on one side; woven cloth with a suede-like appearance.

Ear (lug)

the part of the casket handle attached to the casket body.

Elliptic

a casket having ends in the shape of a half circle.

Embossed

material having designs raised above the surface; frequently seen on cloth covered caskets.

Excelsior (wood wool)

• Padding material

• wood that has been shredded into spaghetti-like strings.

• wood shavings; low resiliency, lacks softness

Extendover

the portion of the casket interior which extends over the top body molding (body ledge) for aesthetic value.

• Interior fabric that drapes over the top body molding

Fishtail (pie)

the wedge-shaped portion of the cap (lid) at each end of a casket.

Flaring square

a casket shell design in which the sides and ends of the casket body flare out from the bottom to the top; a casket shell design that is narrower and shorter at the bottom than at the top.

Flat finish (matte finish)

a finish used on casket exteriors free of gloss; a dull, lusterless surface.

Fold (gimp)

a strip of metal, plastic, or cloth that is attached to the inside of the panel, covering the area at which point the roll (cove) is anchored.

• Decorate trim surrounding the outer perimeter of the roll, anchoring the roll in position It serves as an aesthetic transition from fabric to wood or metal. Can be made of plastic, metal or cloth.

Foot panel

a component part of the casket interior, which is inside the foot cap.

Foot pillow and blanket

Self explanatory, common for full-couch caskets

Gasket Channel

The channel found on the foot panel header of a half couch casket

• The area on the head panel of a half couch casket that receives the gasket forming an air tight seal between the head and foot portion

Hammertone finish

a sprayed finish that has the appearance of small indentations in the metal (as if struck by a ballpeen hammer); the indentations are in the paint and appear as the paint dries.

Hardware

the handles, ornamental fixtures, and associated fittings attached to the casket shell.

Handles

The part of the casket hardware gripped by casket bearers.

Header flange/Gasket Channel

The turned under edge or horizontal portion of the header of the casket cap.

or

The area on the head panel header of a half couch that receives the gasket, forming an air-tight seal between the head and foot portion

Head panel

a component part of the casket interior which is inside the head portion of the cap; no distinction is made between the head panel and foot panel in full couch caskets.

High gloss finish

a smooth, burnished, and polished finish used on casket exteriors; created by rubbing and polishing the surface to a finished or refined state.

Hinge cover (hinge skirt)

that portion of the casket interior covering the hinges that attach the casket cap to the casket body; usually extends from the roll and becomes a part of the body lining.

Hinges

Supports to brace the cap for opening

Cap bracket Hinge

Place thumb in thumb in groove and push the hinge towards the cap of the casket

Inner panels

functional or ornamental covering for the foot end of a full couch casket; may be available for the head end in some full couch casket models.

Knee brace hinge

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

• Grasp the center of the hinge at the joint pull the hinge towards you or away from the cap of the casket

Linen

a fabric made from flax; noted for its strength, coolness, and luster. It is a crisp fabric with a distinct woven appearance.

Masselin

pressed paper in sheet form; used in casket construction as a backing (upholstery) material.

• Often supports lining, particularly in the areas of the hinge cover and body lining.

• Helps conceal transparency of lower grade fabrics.

Mattress cover

interior cloth or material that covers the mattress or bedding of the casket.

Mattress types

 Adjustable – up/down, some with side-to-side tilt with hex key

 Stationary – Cannot be moved, usually contains filler

Octagon

a casket having eight angles or comers and therefore has eight sides or body panels

Ogee (rim)

the "S" shaped molding component of a casket cap.

• Historically, the ogee did not open with the rest of the cap when the body was viewed. The body would be placed into the casket by the entire cap opening. However, when the body was viewed, only the crown of the head portion of the casket opened

Ogee flange (rim flange)

the turned under edge or horizontal portion of the casket rim which comes into contact with the gasket or body ledge flange (top body molding flange) if there is no gasket

Overlay (overthrow, throw)

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

Pillow

soft padding material covered in fabric and used to support the head of the deceased

Plastic

synthetic or natural organic polymers shaped when soft and then hardened.

• When used as a backing material it often forms the roll/cove and cap panels

Plastic extrusion molding

a method of forming items by injecting molten plastic into a die.

Plated finish

the finish created when base metal is coated by another metal via an electrolytic process; often found on casket hardware; in casket construction identified by the term "deposit," as in "copper deposit."

Plush

a woven cloth with a nap exceeding 1/8th inch

Polished

a smooth, glass-like appearance for stone monuments and markers achieved by running rough to fine grit diamond polishing wheels over the surface. The sun will often reflect off a polished granite surface.

Polymer

a compound, similar in appearance to plastic, that has a high molecular weight creating an extremely durable substance.

Rock pitch

a rough rock finish for stone monuments and markers created by splitting or breaking the stone to enhance the natural finish and give it a more structured and balanced appearance.

Satin

a fabric woven to create a smooth lustrous face and dull back. Made from silk, nylon or rayon.

Satin finish

a low-luster finish used on casket exteriors that is smooth; with well defined, fine lines or striations.

Semi-gloss finish

a medium luster finish used on casket exteriors

Semi-tailored interior

a combination of a tailored interior with one or more other styles of interior for effect.

Shell

the basic exterior of a casket, including the cap (lid) upper portion and body lower portion.

Shirred interior

a style of casket interior in which the material is drawn or gathered in parallel fashion in a multiple needle head sewing process.

Stamped hardware

a hardware production method whereby the casket hardware sections are pressed out on a hydraulic press.

State casket (vertical side square)

casket in which the body panels are at a 90-degree angle to the bottom and the comers form 90-degree angles.

Stationary bar

a non-moveable casket handle. It can be full-length, or individual

Stiffeners

elongated indentations that are pressed into the casket bottom and help to strengthen the casket shell.

Swing bar

a moveable casket handle with a hinged arm. It can be full-length or individual.

Tailored interior

a tightly drawn casket interior style appearing very plain, simple and dignified

Tip

the decorative or ornamental part of the casket handle that covers the exposed ends of the bar.

Transverse gasket

a rubber gasket that seals the space between the head and foot caps on a split-cap or half-couch metal casket.

Tufted interior

a style of casket interior created by placing a padding material between a lining material and a backing material, with subsequent stitches taken, forming small raised puffs.

• Buggy Tuft (diamond)

• Biscuit Tufting (squares)

What are the two methods of producing metal hardware for caskets?

• Cast

• Stamped

Describe the cast method of making metal hardware

 Most expensive hardware production method in which molten metal is poured into a mold, allowed to cool then removed

Describe the stamped method of producing metal hardware for caskets

 Lesser expensive production method where the sections are pressed out on a hydraulic press

What is the method for making plastic hardware for caskets?

 Extrusion method

Describe the extrusion method of making plastic hardware

injecting molten plastic into a die

It takes approximately ______ yards of material for the average adult casket

12-15

What are the types of interior materials?

 Lining, Padding and Backing Materials

Velvet

A fabric of silk, cotton or possibly rayon having a thick, soft pile or nap.

Linen Weave

A fabric woven to look like linen

Twill weave

A textile weave in which the threads are crossed over one another to give an appearance of diagonal lines.

Muslin

very basic plain-woven cotton fabric. This is mostly used in the lining of the Jewish Casket.

Fiberboard (cardboard)

• Type of backing material

• Stiff, light material made from wastepaper pulp, often used for making containers for packaging goods (Microsoft Encarta College Dictionary)

• Used often in the roll/cove and cap panels

 Specialty head/insert panels

A unique design created in the head panel of a casket or on an insert panel.

In what area are padding materials found?

Found in areas that are touched:

• By dead human body

• By consumer

What are padding materials included in?

• Bed

• Pillow

• Throw

• Extendover* occasionally

• Puffing* occasionally

* Very occasionally used in this manner

Cotton

• A padding material

• Soft loose filler material

Polyethylene Foam

• Padding material

• closed-cell foam; highly resilient, easy to work, low-cost, resistant to solvents.

Shredded paper

• Padding Material

• low resiliency, lacks softness

Spun Polyester

• Padding Material

• resembles cotton candy; highly resilient, easy to work, low-cost, resistant to solvents.