God’s Acre | Ephrata, Pennsylvania

Black letter is not commonly used today, but it was an appropriate choice given this gentleman’s German heritage. The layout and lettering draw from the tradition of Fraktur, an ornate art form developed in Pennsylvania during the 19th century.

The initials are gilded in 24K gold, while the remaining letterforms are painted white, standing in striking contrast against the black Buckingham slate. With limited space, twelve circles were added at the top and bottom to represent the months, while the years of birth and death are carved vertically along each side.