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The Immortal Instruments Logo is a tribute to the Colonial New England “Death’s Head” which adorns many Colonial period gravestones in Greater Boston where John was born and raised.

The New England “death’s head”—a skull or skull-and-wings motif carved on early gravestones—is one of the most distinctive and revealing symbols of colonial American culture. It reflects both religious beliefs and social attitudes toward death in Puritan New England. Here’s a detailed overview of its history and meaning:

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The imagery evolved over roughly a century, mirroring theological and cultural changes:

 

c. 1670–1730

Death’s head (skull & wings)

Strict Puritan focus on mortality and judgment.

 

• The death’s head motif appears primarily from the late 1600s through the early 1700s, especially between 1670 and 1760.

• Most common in Puritan New England, particularly in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.

• Early New England settlers were predominantly Puritans, whose theology emphasized human mortality, sin, and divine judgment. Gravestones served as moral reminders—"memento mori" ("remember you must die")—rather than sentimental memorials.

 

The Death’s Head Motif

• Design: The earliest stones show a skull (sometimes just a crude head) with wings, often accompanied by bones or hourglasses.

• Symbolism:

  • The skull represented death and the decay of the flesh.

  • The wings symbolized the flight of the soul or resurrection, hinting at Christian hope despite Puritan sobriety.

  • Crossbones, hourglasses, and scythes reinforced the message of mortality and the passage of time.

• Artisans: Local stonecarvers—such as members of the Lamson family in Charlestown, MA, or the Stevens family in Newport, RI—developed regional styles and iconographies.

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