Lunette - Gershom Bartlett #1 LbNA #37624

Have you ever marveled at the 18 and early 19th century headstones of our ancestors? The colonial burying grounds of New England represent some of the most wondrous carvings and are treasure troves of information and beauty of many kinds. The stones are the “persisting symbols of an art form that is largely indigenous, that reached a high level of abstract complexity and beauty that died away in an amazingly short period of time.”

The term lunette is referred to as the top central area of the stone, the area containing the cherub. Gershom Bartlett’s carvings are among the most bizarre and strikingly original of any produced during the 18th century. His stones are easily recognized by the bulbous noses, turned down mouths, row of vestigial teeth at the bottom of the face, raised eyebrows, usually four- lobed crown, three curved wings of curls beside the face, or sometimes large puffy mushroom-like protuberances from the sides of the head. Bartlett is often called the “hook-and-eye man”. He was a native of Bolton, CT. This example is the typical-type stone that he carved. To find this lunette and the letterbox, follow the clues below.

Old Cemetery/Century Cemetery – Marlborough, CT

From the south eastern entrance, walk 30 paces straight ahead then turn to your left. You will find the stone of the wife of Captain Foot a few rows ahead of you, carved by Bartlett. Walk to the stone wall that is facing her back side. There will be a tree blocking the break in the stone wall. Look to the white quartz stone…Please be discreet…