Other Art
Once you get the pattern, where just about any art can be added to a base design, then the possibilities become essentially endless. If you have something you want on the stone, we can probably do it. Outdoors, western, and job/hobby related themes are the most common.
Religious Art
The other traditional type of art found on headstones is religious. Within this theme, designs using some form of cross are the most common. Of course the cross is readily combined with flowers, so cross designs are usually seen with flowers. There is also considerable variety in crosses themselves. Specific groups of Christians have their tradition cross designs, and we offer a selection of those. Religious art goes beyond crosses, and includes bibles, doves and angels of various types.
Flowers
It seems that since time immemorial people have been placing flowers at grave sites.It also seems that since shortly thereafter, headstone carvers have been carving flowered designs into headstones. The basic design idea is to take the underlying headstone design and carve a flower that has been otherwise placed on the stone. Of course the problem then becomes which flower, how many and where to place them. And, since the days of colored headstones, the issue also includes what color.
Roses are by far the most common flower used on headstones. When done in color these are usually done in red with green foliage. Pink, yellow and white are also common rose colors, and nearly every rose design is offered in these other colors.
Other flower types include lilies, lilacs, daffodils and others. There is a type of flower to suit just about any taste.
Roses are by far the most common flower used on headstones. When done in color these are usually done in red with green foliage. Pink, yellow and white are also common rose colors, and nearly every rose design is offered in these other colors.
Other flower types include lilies, lilacs, daffodils and others. There is a type of flower to suit just about any taste.
Text Fonts
With the development of computer aided design the variety of fonts are basically limited to what can be dreamed up on the computer and what can realistically be manufactured. As a general rule we can manufacture a stone with whatever font and capitalization the customer may want.
Understanding Basic Designs
Headstones used to be carved by hand using a chisel and mallet. In those days it took time to carve each letter, so headstone carvers billed per letter, so customers wanted the fewest possible letters. This caused many headstones to be carved with a name and dates and nothing else. Of course these days all the lettering is done at once, so it does not matter how many letters make up the design. This history, though, leads to a popular headstone with 4 lines of inscription.
As carving became easier the basic names and dates designs were augmented with catchy phrases. Those phrases themselves have a name and are called "Epithets." "In Loving Memory" and "Rest In Peace" are examples of common epithets. Most standard headstone designs now include room for epithets at the top and bottom of the stone, bringing the total number of inscription lines to six.
As carving became easier the basic names and dates designs were augmented with catchy phrases. Those phrases themselves have a name and are called "Epithets." "In Loving Memory" and "Rest In Peace" are examples of common epithets. Most standard headstone designs now include room for epithets at the top and bottom of the stone, bringing the total number of inscription lines to six.
The Manufacturing Process
The process for making a headstone involves using a computer to prepare a CAD drawing that is used to cut a stencil. The stencil is attached to the stone which is then run through various passes. In each pass parts of the stencil are removed or replaced until the entire design takes shape on the stone.
What fundamentally drives the process is the number of passes that must be made in order to render the design on the raw stone. We give these passes names, and those names show up on the order form as the Style of the stone.
What fundamentally drives the process is the number of passes that must be made in order to render the design on the raw stone. We give these passes names, and those names show up on the order form as the Style of the stone.
- Line Art style of headstones involve a single pass through manufacturing. The stencil for this style of headstone includes all lettering and any artwork. The lettering and artwork will all end up with the same color, typically black on light colored stone, and white on dark stone. This is the least expensive style because it only has one manufacturing pass.
- Frosted style of headstones involve a pair of passes through manufacturing. The stenciling includes parts that are used in each pass. The coloring in this style of headstone includes shades of gray as well as white and black. This is by far the most common style of headstone we sell.
- Color style headstones include a final manual pass were color accent is added to a headstone that has been through the frosted manufacturing process. This is how flowers end up red, and foliage ends up green. For book keeping reasons the key colors in the design are listed in the forms for this style of headstone. No matter specific colors, the process differs from a frosted stone in the use of colored rock dye being added at the end.
Colors

The precise color and grain of the stone is determined by the quarry where the stone originates. Most common colors are available from different quarries, and so they are given common names like gray.Specific inventory includes an additional name, like Georgia Gray, Morning Rose, Imperial Red, and Nero Black as shown here, though these colors are generally
substituted.
More exotic colors like Cat's Eye, Tropical Green and Blue Perl come from limited quarries and identify a narrowly available stone. There is always slight variation in specific stones because of variation in the natural grain of the stone.
Black is a particularly interesting color because when polished it becomes highly reflective, giving a stunning final presentation. This effect is particularly noticeable on larger stones. On dark stones like black, blue,green and red, designs are often frosted to provide a light background for black lettering or, at times, all the lettering is done in white.
substituted.
More exotic colors like Cat's Eye, Tropical Green and Blue Perl come from limited quarries and identify a narrowly available stone. There is always slight variation in specific stones because of variation in the natural grain of the stone.
Black is a particularly interesting color because when polished it becomes highly reflective, giving a stunning final presentation. This effect is particularly noticeable on larger stones. On dark stones like black, blue,green and red, designs are often frosted to provide a light background for black lettering or, at times, all the lettering is done in white.
Slant Markers

Slanted Markers stand up, with a sloping front face. The back is vertical and unpolished, though can be polished at additional cost. The formal inscription is placed on the polished sloping face. It is also common to put a limited inscription, say a last name, on the back of the stone at additional cost. Because the stone is sloped, it sheds water better and needs less long-term maintenance. These markers have an optional matched stone base. When a stone base is not used, concrete is used instead.
Monuments

Monuments stand vertical and also come with matched stone bases. Inscriptions can be placed on both sides of a monument. Typically there is a front with a detailed design and then the back is more limited with at least a last name.
Bevel Markers

Beveled Markers have a slanted face making them easier to read.
Flat Markers

Flat Markers are designed so the top surface of the stone is installed flush with the grass. These markers come in various sizes
ranging from 8 inches by 16 inches up through 12 inches by 48 inches. The 3rd dimension listed on these markers is the thickness, usually 3 or 4 inches thick. So: 8x16x4 means 8 inches tall, 16 inches wide, 4 inches thick.
Flat markers are manufactured with either sawed sides or what are called "Rock Pitched" sides. Sawed sides are flat, but otherwise unfinished. Rock Pitched sides have rough appearance suitable for installation where the sides will be visible. Either type of side can be easily installed in concrete. Sawed sides are needed for installations in certain types of walls or other brick or brick-like patterns.
The wholesale market determines which is more readily available, and the "in vogue" side style can change quarterly. Since most installations end up with the sides buried in concrete the sides usually don't matter for final appearance.
ranging from 8 inches by 16 inches up through 12 inches by 48 inches. The 3rd dimension listed on these markers is the thickness, usually 3 or 4 inches thick. So: 8x16x4 means 8 inches tall, 16 inches wide, 4 inches thick.
Flat markers are manufactured with either sawed sides or what are called "Rock Pitched" sides. Sawed sides are flat, but otherwise unfinished. Rock Pitched sides have rough appearance suitable for installation where the sides will be visible. Either type of side can be easily installed in concrete. Sawed sides are needed for installations in certain types of walls or other brick or brick-like patterns.
The wholesale market determines which is more readily available, and the "in vogue" side style can change quarterly. Since most installations end up with the sides buried in concrete the sides usually don't matter for final appearance.
Selecting Memorials: Shapes and Sizes
Memorials range in shapes and sizes from simple, flat markers (sometimes called grass markers) up through large monuments. There
are several common shapes and each shape comes in a variety of sizes and colors.
Understanding Basic Designs
Headstones used to be carved by hand using a chisel and mallet. In those days it took time to carve each letter, so headstone carvers billed per letter, so customers wanted the fewest possible letters. This caused many headstones to be carved with a name and dates and nothing else. Of course these days all the lettering is done at once, so it does not matter how many letters make up the design. This history, though, leads to a popular headstone with 4 lines of inscription.
As carving became easier the basic names and dates designs were augmented with catchy phrases. Those phrases themselves have a name and are called "Epithets." "In Loving Memory" and "Rest In Peace" are examples of common epithets. Most standard headstone designs now include room for epithets at the top and bottom of the stone, bringing the total number of inscription lines to six.
As carving became easier the basic names and dates designs were augmented with catchy phrases. Those phrases themselves have a name and are called "Epithets." "In Loving Memory" and "Rest In Peace" are examples of common epithets. Most standard headstone designs now include room for epithets at the top and bottom of the stone, bringing the total number of inscription lines to six.
The Manufacturing Process
The process for making a headstone involves using a computer to prepare a CAD drawing that is used to cut a stencil. The stencil is attached to the stone which is then run through various passes. In each pass parts of the stencil are removed or replaced until the entire design takes shape on the stone.
What fundamentally drives the process is the number of passes that must be made in order to render the design on the raw stone. We give these passes names, and those names show up on the order form as the Style of the stone.
What fundamentally drives the process is the number of passes that must be made in order to render the design on the raw stone. We give these passes names, and those names show up on the order form as the Style of the stone.
- Line Art style of headstones involve a single pass through manufacturing. The stencil for this style of headstone includes all lettering and any artwork. The lettering and artwork will all end up with the same color, typically black on light colored stone, and white on dark stone. This is the least expensive style because it only has one manufacturing pass.
- Frosted style of headstones involve a pair of passes through manufacturing. The stenciling includes parts that are used in each pass. The coloring in this style of headstone includes shades of gray as well as white and black. This is by far the most common style of headstone we sell.
- Color style headstones include a final manual pass were color accent is added to a headstone that has been through the frosted manufacturing process. This is how flowers end up red, and foliage ends up green. For book keeping reasons the key colors in the design are listed in the forms for this style of headstone. No matter specific colors, the process differs from a frosted stone in the use of colored rock dye being added at the end.
Materials
Grave markers are almost always made out of granite. Marble was once more common and can be found in older cemeteries
but it is not as durable and tends to weather more easily than granite.
but it is not as durable and tends to weather more easily than granite.
Colors

The precise color and grain of the stone is determined by the quarry where the stone originates. Most common colors are available from different quarries, and so they are given common names like gray.Specific inventory includes an additional name, like Georgia Gray, Morning Rose, Imperial Red, and Nero Black as shown here, though these colors are generally
substituted.
More exotic colors like Cat's Eye, Tropical Green and Blue Perl come from limited quarries and identify a narrowly available stone. There is always slight variation in specific stones because of variation in the natural grain of the stone.
Black is a particularly interesting color because when polished it becomes highly reflective, giving a stunning final presentation. This effect is particularly noticeable on larger stones. On dark stones like black, blue,green and red, designs are often frosted to provide a light background for black lettering or, at times, all the lettering is done in white.
substituted.
More exotic colors like Cat's Eye, Tropical Green and Blue Perl come from limited quarries and identify a narrowly available stone. There is always slight variation in specific stones because of variation in the natural grain of the stone.
Black is a particularly interesting color because when polished it becomes highly reflective, giving a stunning final presentation. This effect is particularly noticeable on larger stones. On dark stones like black, blue,green and red, designs are often frosted to provide a light background for black lettering or, at times, all the lettering is done in white.
Preserving memories for future generations.
Wolfe Granite Memorials is an independent, family owned business providing professional memorial design and sales since 1873. They are passionate about providing families with personalized, quality care. A family memorial is a highly specialized purchase and the staff at Wolfe Granite specializes in educating consumers as they guide families in designing a unique and meaningful memorial.
Memorial Products & Services available at Wolfe Granite Memorials
Granite and Marble Memorials
Granite Benches
Bronze Memorials and Plaques
Cremation Memorials, Cremation Urns
Eternal Lights
Columbariums, Mausoleums
Civic Memorials
Statuary, Vases, Garden Features
On-site Inscriptions, Monument Cleaning
Knowledge, Experience, Personal Service
Wolfe Granite Memorials is an independent, family owned business providing professional memorial design and sales since 1873. They are passionate about providing families with personalized, quality care. A family memorial is a highly specialized purchase and the staff at Wolfe Granite specializes in educating consumers as they guide families in designing a unique and meaningful memorial.
Memorial Products & Services available at Wolfe Granite Memorials
Granite and Marble Memorials
Granite Benches
Bronze Memorials and Plaques
Cremation Memorials, Cremation Urns
Eternal Lights
Columbariums, Mausoleums
Civic Memorials
Statuary, Vases, Garden Features
On-site Inscriptions, Monument Cleaning
Knowledge, Experience, Personal Service
What is a Monument?
1- It's a tribute to a person's life
2- It is the history of past events
3- It symbolizes the personality, character,
accomplishments and beliefs of a person
4- It is a tribute of love, respect & appreciation
5- It's a means of expressing religious faith
2- It is the history of past events
3- It symbolizes the personality, character,
accomplishments and beliefs of a person
4- It is a tribute of love, respect & appreciation
5- It's a means of expressing religious faith