Time for another Casket Spotlight, and boy is this one a beauty. The Masterpiece by Marsellus Caskets Co is my all-time favorite casket. The reason I like it is not because it is expensive (around $16,000 retail), or has a really soft velvet interior (oooh, it is nice). I like this casket because even the underside of the casket looks good. Nothing is forgotton or hidden in the construction. The skill and craftsmanship it takes to make the unit is like no other that I know of. This casket personifies excellence and elegance. If I have my way, this will be the one that I am buried in.
A little history on the Marsellus Casket Company. Marsellus was a small manufacturer, but they put out an awesome casket. They have been regarded as the Rolls Royce of caskets in the funeral industry. However, their distribution was small and so one thing led to another (its a long story, believe me), and their intangible assets were acquired by Batesville Casket Co (the big guys) in 2003. I read that it would have cost more to overhaul the factory than to just move the operation because a lot of their machines were from the 1930′s. So now Batesville manufactures the caskets at their plant in Mississippi.
The Masterpiece casket has some impressive specs. It is contructed of with solid Mahogany planks that are 2 inches thick (known as 8/4 or “eight quarter” in the woodworking world). When completed, it weighs 400 pounds. The casket takes 6 months to build and is done completely by hand. The finish on the wood is hand rubbed to a brilliant shine and takes 16 hours to complete. The casket is quite impressive to see in person.
Marsellus Caskets have also been known as the caskets of the presidents. It makes sense since John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, and Ronald Reagan were all buried in caskets by Marsellus.
I think that the Marsellus Casket is beautiful, but who is willing to pay $16,000 for a casket?
I would, and have. My funeral is prepaid.
I am not sure how I stumbled on to these pics,but having been a funeral apprentice many years ago I am glad I did.Yes, that Reagan casket is a beaut and there are those of us who recognize that caskets can be works of art.Do you have a photo of the Marcellus that was used for the Kennedys and Nixon? I believe I had read that they had all been buried in a similiar if not same model? Thanks.
I just love Marsellus. Been a multi-state Lic director/Embalmer i also collect Old Marsellus Items. If you havent seen the “Masterpiece carved top” Oh, your missing a gorgious casket.Its a carving of flowers twisted on a vine from head to toe on top the the casket…. all by hand what craftsmenship went into it. The carved top adds about 200+Lbs to the casket(and about $20K for the unit).I dont think you can get the “Masterpiece carved top” anymore, the “President carved top” replaced it.
Dear Morty Mike, I would love a picture of the carved flowers on top the the Masterpiece. Do you have one? I have been working for some time on a new line of caskets. Please check out my website, Apollocasket.com What does the “President carved top” look like? Thanks a lot.
You could reach me via Apollo Casket, or kkotila@comcast.net
Also, Steph K, I would love to see your photos of “The President”
Kim Kotila
Hey Steph K,
Kennedy, Nixon and Ford were in Marsellus’ Model# 710 “The President” mahogany casket. I have photos if you give me an email address ill send them, Tried to post here and wouldnt work.Let me know.
Please do send them to me at bertpople@gmail.com
This is the best thing I have ever seen in this business. We at Bethel Brothers are proud to be the pace setters here. May our boss lady rest in peace.
What’s the point of paying all that money for something that will be buried and left to rot?
This is a master piece, My boss lady in Nassau, Bahamas was buried in one recently.
Unfortunately, I’m looking at the old Marsellus Casket Company right now, as it’s on fire. The fire started early this morning and it finally appears to be under control.
I live a block from the former Marsellus Casket Co. It saddens me that yet another piece of our history is going down, most likely because of some idiot who could care less about such important things. Officials believe the fire will burn into tomorrow, and the building will have to be demolished. The roof has collapsed through two floors already and I guess the building could collapse any time. I just hope someone saves the clock, if nothing else.
I am very saddened about the old Marsellus Casket Company building burning down. It is a sad day for mahogany everywhere.
They tore it down a few days later, and to my knowledge, the clock was not saved. The view out my office window now consists of Arby’s and railroad tracks. Yay. :p
The Marsellus wich is the Mercedes Benz 560 SEL of caskets is what I will be buried in in my copper lined lawn crypt I have 2 life insurance policies to assure and yea will be buried in my black pinstriped suit with black shirt red ties and gold clips and with jewelry and will have a traditional requiem with Slavonic not the Vatican 2 feel good special you do this once and so Das Bests oder Nichts(the best or nothing) !!!
Yes it is true that president JFK was put away in an Marsellus 710 Casket, and it’s also true the price tag was ONLY $3,189, now there is a $13,000 increse in price. Why?
I can’t speak for Marsellus (or Batesville now) as to reasons for price increase. But if I had to venture a guess, I would say there are two reasons. First, its built out of Mahogany. Its a pricey wood that is become more and more scarce by the year. Secondly, and probably the biggest factor, is inflation! Nothing costs the same as it did in 1963. I did a quick search for inflation calculator on google and input the numbers to see what something that was $3198 in 1963 would cost today. The answer was $23,576.71. So maybe people are actually getting a better deal today?
I was recently looking at this casket and it had a $60,000.00 price tag. And the top was almost 5″ thick mahogany. The softest velvet interior that I ever felt.