Gokstad Viking burial ship
Inspired by my Norwegian roots, the Oseberg Cradle coffin moves away from the convention of a box, offering a safe, strong cradle with a thick, multi-layered cocoon of pure English organic wool felt. I make the wool shroud and hemp handles. These have a wooden insert, with soft felt covering, so that carrying is easy on the hands. Sam Horrocks makes the cradle from local, sustainable timber. We’ve designed this alternative coffin for cremation as well as burial, and it carries the FFMA – certification which ensures it’s strength and suitability.
“If ever I have a say in a burial vessel again, I wouldn’t choose anything else. I wanted to tell you how beautiful the Oseberg cradle coffin looked at my husband’s service. We had chairs curved around him instead of in rows like a church or crematorium and when I stood to speak about him it felt completely natural to put my hand on the wool cover. I could see how it brought others comfort too. He was in the middle, as he was in life, drawing a crowd and enjoying the stories. At the end of the service, I told people to go and say goodbye….the sight of a bunch of huge, rough and tough roadies placing their hands on him and patting him would melt anyone’s heart. We placed him in a natural burial ground in Pembrokeshire; the grave was lined with straw, flowers and vodka thrown in on top and he looked warm, settled and somehow content. I’ll never forget that sight, it brings me a lot of comfort, it would have been awful to nail him into a box that didn’t reference him nor his shape or his connection to people. I’m so glad I found you, how much more distressing this would have been without your beautiful, warm and embracing work. I know he would have been so proud of his final resting place.
My heartfelt thanks, Sarah ” Feb. 2022
The Oseberg burial ship, Oslo
Environmental Footprint As with all Bellacouche products, it’s plastic free, 100% natural for minimal carbon footprint and fully biodegradable. The timber is planed and sanded down, revealing a beautiful pale colour, reminiscent of much of the old furniture I grew up with in Norway. This is metal, glue and plastic-free.
I have chosen hemp to bear the weight as it is the most ecological and versatile plant fibre grown on the planet. My wool is sourced from organic farms that I visit. Further information about wool as a sustainable fibre here: Grazing animals and industrial livestock.
Sled from the Gokstad Viking burial ship
Why a cradle? We are gently cradled at the beginning of life, so why not at the end? I designed this coffin as an alternative to a box, which many feel distances us from the process of grieving and the fact of death. The soft woollen shroud has a gentler presence, beckoning us to touch and connect with our loss. Over the years, customers mention this connection, and the soft curves and tactile qualities of the felt seem to help in this process.
Recommended Carrying Capacity 125kg
