She hasn’t been published here in a while. Every time I am nearby I try to stop by, see if any new gifts have appeared or just a quick photo of her condition.
Rosalie is looking pretty good, the toys though are getting a bit ragged.
If you are new here; Rosalie White was one of several White children to die and be buried in this old southern cemetery. Infant death rated were extremely high in the mid 1800’s.
What makes this young girl stand out is her grave stone. It is a carved baby carriage, with Rosalie’s ‘death mask’. A plaster casting made from the face of the deceased child. The practice wasn’t uncommon at the time. This cemetery has several headstones made for death masks, she is the only one that survived the years. This is the only casting I have ever seen with no damage.
Locals leave her small gifts when visiting the cemetery. I’m not sure who replaces the ratty ones, maintenance is rare here and the responsibility of the family. After 200 years many grave sites are forgotten.
fascinating and sad but also—after all these years people leave gifts because her stone is so interesting…there’s something very touching about that, the universal-ness of death and the sadness of a baby’s death in particular. Great image, love the black and white
Thank you. Actually seeing her face in that plaster cast is very strange too.