The economy coffin

If you see a reusable coffin, in flat pack form advertised by Ikea remember where you heard about it first. Let me explain. If you ask anyone in Kylebeg, Lacken or further afield they will tell you that I was always as honest as hard times would allow. However at this point in time I may be guilty of a small bit of intellectual property theft.

A reusable coffin was introduced by Emperor Joseph II in 1785, during the Age of Enlightenment and it reflects the ideals of that time, when man was seen as a reasonoriented as well as thoroughly rational being. Joseph II said: “why should good wood, which could be used elsewhere, rot in the ground?” And “why should one arrange a pompous funeral that drives people to expense and in part to ruin?” So he came up with this idea of the folding coffin. The people of Vienna were underwhelmed. The new method of burial was passionately opposed by the clergy, the nobility and the bourgeoisie. After six months the regulation had to be revoked. The emperor reacted correspondingly angrily, allegedly saying: “let them let their stinking carcasses decay as they please”.

He did however remain true to the ideas of the Enlightenment even after his death. His coffin in the Capuchin crypt in Vienna is strikingly simple.

“SPAKES”

By Mattie Lennon

The so called “economy coffin“ was made of wood, it came with a flap at the bottom to release the body into the grave. The corpse (sewn into a sack) was afterwards covered with unslaked lime for sanitary reasons. The coffin was closed and returned to the church again. Birgit Kopp informed me that one original economy coffin is on display at our Bestattungsmuseum (funeral museum) in Vienna. I have submitted accurate technical drawings of my plan for a reusable coffin, using modern materials, to Ikea Creative Hub, in Malmo, Sweden. I included instructions for the customer to assemble it. I am awaiting a reply.

“This is where I’ll be buried, if God spares me.”

How long is your brother Mick dead now?”

“If he had lived another three days he’d be a year dead next Tuesday.”

“What did old Sean die from?”

“I don’t know but I think it was nothing serious.”