Headstone Ideas for a Calligrapher

For a calligrapher, letters are art. Whether they worked in Western scripts, Arabic, Chinese or Hebrew, the most fitting memorial may be written in their own hand.

Symbol and etching ideas

• A pen nib or quill.
• A brush and ink stone for East Asian calligraphy.
• A qalam (reed pen) for Arabic calligraphy.
• A flourish framing the name.
• An illuminated initial for the first letter of their name.

Personal touches

• Their own lettering scanned from a piece of their work.
• A favourite verse they often wrote.
• The scripts they practised.
• Guilds or societies they belonged to.

Epitaph ideas

• Written in love.
• Every line was beautiful.
• Her hand still speaks.
• The final flourish.
• In the beginning was the Word. (John 1:1)

Engraving their own hand

Monument companies can trace a calligrapher's own lettering and engrave it exactly. Choose a piece written large and clearly; very fine hairlines may need slight thickening to engrave well. Their signature beneath the inscription completes the tribute.

Sacred scripts

For Arabic, Hebrew or Chinese calligraphy, especially sacred text, ask a knowledgeable person in that tradition to check the wording and placement. See muslim headstones and Chinese headstone traditions.

Design tips

• Choose bold, clear samples of their hand.
• Laser etching reproduces fine strokes on black granite.
• Have sacred text checked by someone in that tradition.
• See headstone fonts and lettering styles.

Key Takeaways

• Their own handwriting makes the most personal design.
• Pens, brushes and qalams suit different traditions.
• Have sacred text checked.
• Fine strokes may need thickening to engrave.

Next Step

See occupation and hobby symbols and custom etched scenes, or try it in the Design Studio.