Daily AncestorInverted torch
An inverted torch on a gravestone stands for death, a life put out; if the flame still burns, it can mean the soul living on.
A torch held upright and burning stands for life and immortality. Turned upside down, it signifies death. Many carvings show the flame still alight, which guides read as the soul passing into the next life.
Read the torch together with its flame: a torch fully put out says death, while one still burning adds the hope of life beyond. Pairs of inverted torches often flank an inscription or a doorway on a tomb.
As seen in a recordGarden cemetery or churchyard, 1820 to 1900
Pair of inverted torches flanking the inscription: Mary Ann, wife of Dr. J. W. Thorncastle, died Oct. 1, 1857
Sources
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Inverted torch." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/gravestone-symbols/inverted-torch. Last checked 2026-10-15.