A (Final) Rest in Luxury

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed)
Aug 29th 2006 at 6:07PM

Andreas Spiegel, when it came time to bury his father, took note of the fact that the vast majority of coffins are rectangular, heavy and heavily ornate. They were old fashioned, and Spiegel decided that he had a design to revolutionize the coffin industry. Or, at least, a design that would give discerning coffin buyers an alternative to designs that have been overused for years. The Cocoon is an ovoid shaped box made out of natural materials which, unlike traditional coffins, will decompose 10-15 years after being placed into the ground. Fourteen colors are offered as a finish to the natural soybean-based resin and the natural jute lining can be replaced with silk, as part of the customizing "haute couture service" Spiegel offers. Prices start at $3,500.

Tags: coffin, coffins, funeral, grave, new york times, nyt, the cocoon, TheCocoon