Above are two exquisitely beautiful antique hearses- intricately detailed upon every inch.
Hearses have been around as early as the 13th century- however then they were not as elaborate as they are today. The term hearse comes from the Middle English word "herse," which referred to a type of candelabra often placed on top of a coffin as the body was taken to its burial place.
The "hearse" later evolved to a bier, which was made of aluminum and had wheels for ease of movement. These hand-carried hearses evolved into horse-drawn wagons during the 17th century.
By the 19th century, wooden hearses were becoming more elaborate with intricately carved flowers, doves and scrolls, and heavy velvet draperies hung on both sidesof the carriage(examples are the photos above).
Hearses were usually crafted from mahogany wood. In 1850, Crane, Breed & Company of Cincinnati began producing metal caskets. Four years later the company was also building horse-drawn hearses.
To continue reading the history of hearses click Here.
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