A monumental mason, also called a memorial mason, uses traditional and modern-day stone mason tools to carve and chisel tombstone designs, headstones, memorial benches and graveside statues. The job requires an artistic eye, graphic design skills and physical stamina to work with blocks of limestone, marble and granite.
Tombstone makers work for large monument companies or run their own businesses. Monumental masons both design and create tombstones for customers seeking customization. The job of a memorial mason entails selling and advertising their services, sketching designs and sculpting the selected stone into unique shapes.
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According to the Stone Carver, gravestone carvers still use centuries old stone carving techniques even though tools and technology have evolved. They copy or trace drawings on the stone and then carve the design using pneumatic hammers, wood mallets and many different types of chisels. Memorial masons need artistic talent and expert sculpting skills to create personalized memorial sculptures such as winged angels, tree stumps and classical pillars.
For reasons of cost and convenience, many tombstone designs are now done with computer-aided software. Machines cut blocks of quarried stone into standard monument shapes. Lastly, a memorial mason uses lasers or sandblasting to etch tombstone designs on grave markers before installation at the cemetery.
Memorial masons can seek voluntary certificates through professional organizations. For example, Monument Builders of Northern America, MBNA, offers a six-month correspondence course that culminates in a design specialist certificate. The course entails use of drawing pencils, architect scale ruler and computer-aided (CAD) software to create pleasing memorial designs.
The job of a monumental mason can be physically challenging when chiseling stone, making headstone repairs or installing grave markers. Those who have contact with customers must be sensitive, patient and compassionate when communicating with individuals who may be emotional or indecisive. The job can be stressful at times because mistakes made while carving expensive stone are costly and difficult to correct.
BLS reports that job demand for stone masons will decline 1 percent from 2020 to 2030, as compared to an expected 8 percent overall growth rate for all occupations. Job openings for tombstone makers will likely follow this trend as the tombstone design process becomes increasingly automated. Similarly, headstones are largely mass produced to conform to cemetery rules and regulations for grave markers.
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