Economy coffin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The economy coffin, hinged coffin or Josephinian coffin (German: Sparsarg, Klappsärge, or Josephinischer Sarg)[1][2] was a type of reusable coffin introduced by Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor in the late 18th century. The body was carried in the coffin to the gravesite where it would be dropped into the grave through folding doors on the base. The coffin would then be reused.
Joseph II was a reforming ruler who advocated Enlightenment principles. He was a keen proponent of natural law and adhered less strictly to Christian dogma than his predecessors. Many of his reforms were utilitarian in nature and also served to extend the reach of the state.[3]
Joseph made several decrees relating to burials, for reasons of hygiene. He introduced legally mandated periods between death and burial and required examination of the deceased by a medical professional. Joseph prohibited burials within church vaults in Vienna in 1782, requiring that burials take place outside the city boundary. He extended this decree to the whole of Austria in 1783 and the rest of the Habsburg lands in 1784. He also discouraged visits to cemeteries except for the purpose of burial.[4]
