What is this thing? Copper cremation artifact identification help please
October 10, 2019 9:25 AM Subscribe
What is this thing? It came along with some cremated remains from 1935 (but was not holding said remains).
Asking for a coworker. Her grandfather was cremated in 1935 and no one claimed his remains, until now. Along with his ashes, the hospital sent this copper jar/can thing. It is roughly the size of a mason jar. My coworker says it looks a little ashy on the inside, but she didn't investigate further. It almost seems like it could be his original container, and it was cut open with a can-opener type device at some point, but she says it's not big enough for that. Does anybody know what this is?
Asking for a coworker. Her grandfather was cremated in 1935 and no one claimed his remains, until now. Along with his ashes, the hospital sent this copper jar/can thing. It is roughly the size of a mason jar. My coworker says it looks a little ashy on the inside, but she didn't investigate further. It almost seems like it could be his original container, and it was cut open with a can-opener type device at some point, but she says it's not big enough for that. Does anybody know what this is?
Best answer: Read this in the local paper a few years ago - pictures look nearly identical:
On preview - yeah, same unclaimed urns, I think.
posted by verschollen at 9:35 AM on October 10, 2019 [3 favorites]
On preview - yeah, same unclaimed urns, I think.
posted by verschollen at 9:35 AM on October 10, 2019 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: Thanks guys. My pre-coffee google-fu was weak this morning!
posted by natabat at 9:46 AM on October 10, 2019
posted by natabat at 9:46 AM on October 10, 2019
Response by poster: Oh! That's actually the hospital that had him!
posted by natabat at 9:57 AM on October 10, 2019 [7 favorites]
posted by natabat at 9:57 AM on October 10, 2019 [7 favorites]
It looks like corrosion is effecting a lot of those containers, so probably before sending you the ashes, for safety's sake they transferred them into another container but sent you the original copper one as well.
posted by beagle at 1:48 PM on October 10, 2019
posted by beagle at 1:48 PM on October 10, 2019
It actually looks like it was cut open with a mill or something that cut a wide kerf. I wonder if the were checking the contents for something other than just ashes? It looks plenty thick enough that “worry about corrosion” doesn’t seem too likely.
posted by Gilgamesh's Chauffeur at 6:06 PM on October 10, 2019
posted by Gilgamesh's Chauffeur at 6:06 PM on October 10, 2019
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Secretariat at 9:32 AM on October 10, 2019 [2 favorites]