Connecticut Historical Society in Hartford has another 19th-century mourning artifact, a "corpse preserver." The item, made between 1876 and 1879, was designed to prevent a body from decomposing during the grieving period. The black walnut case is insulated with horsehair. After the body was placed in the preserver, an iron tray was filled with ice, to keep the body cool. The melted ice dripped down the end of the case. A little hinged window could be swung open to view the face of the corpse. So it's sort of like a coffin, except it was re-used after the bodies were taken out and buried.