"Saved by the Bell"

The Victorians were a paranoid yet surprisingly pragmatic people. Their concerns were sometimes warranted; medical science was still in its infancy, and being buried alive was a real possibility. Thus was created: The Safety Coffin. A simple contraption leads from a bell above ground to a wire deep underground, attached to the hand or toe of the individual in the casket. The first patent for the invention was made around 1867 by Franz Vestor of New Jersey; though whoever ultimately led the industry in safety coffins remains unclear. Many units were sold, but there is no confirmation that anyone has ever been “saved by the bell”.

This print is a reproduction of a drawing made by Kat Jetté in 2026. The image is printed on Epson archival matte paper and packaged with a foamcore backing. 

Image size: 4" x 4"

Paper size: 8 x 10”

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