The prize piece in their display window in the northwestern German city of Cologne is a coffin decorated with images of mostly naked, muscular young men in athletic poses inspired by Italian Renaissance paintings. HOWEVER, this image does not belong them. The art they "stole" is called "The Prophecy" and was created by digital wizard Aymeric Giraudel and commissioned by  Beautiful  Mag . I spoke with the guys at Beautiful and they are not happy this! Legal action may happen, we'll see.

"We believe you should be able to have a coffin that lets you embark on your last journey in a way that reflects how you lived your life," undertaker Thomas Brandl said Thursday.

The unconventional coffin, which costs 1,650 euros ($2,300), has aroused fascination among customers, Brandl said. -  Not a bad price at all!

"Even though the Lord Mayor of Berlin, the vice-chancellor and many others openly admit to being homosexual nowadays, marginal groups still face prejudices and bureaucratic hurdles," the pair said in a statement.

They said they provided an individual and different service which offered "a warm and fantastical departure for same-sex couples."

The gay couple also sell coffins and urns in rainbow colors — the international symbol of the gay and lesbian movement — and offer burials around a tree reserved exclusively for homosexuals.

Given estimates which suggest that around one in ten of Cologne's population is homosexual, Brandl and Koenigsfeld are well placed to serve the gay community.

The pair also cater for the heterosexual market in an unconventional way, giving customers the opportunity to get involved in designing coffins for their loved ones.

"You can choose different colors and designs," Brandl said. "You could go for Cologne's skyline or lots of women on your coffin. A grandmother might like images of her grandchildren on hers — there are loads of possibilities."