Ceramic Cremation Urns
by Jerri Haaven, Certified Grief Recovery Specialist and Celebrant
photo by Ashley Van Haeften
The first few times that I took a ball of clay and threw it onto a potter’s wheel to mold it into a piece of ceramic art, it didn’t go so well. The clay ended up in a heap on the floor. During later attempts, the vase I tried to make somewhat resembled the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and then eventually collapsed. Creating ceramic pottery was not in my destiny, it seemed. Perhaps I could have benefited from the lessons learned from prehistoric man.
Ceramic art was discovered in approximately 26,000 B.C. Much later, the ancient Greeks first used firing as a technique to seal pottery for perishables and burials. Ceramics is one of the oldest forms of art as a creative three-dimensional expression. As an art form and industry, it has withstood the test of time, as this timeline developed by the University of Illinois depicts.
Today clay is used for a variety of different products: pottery, bricks, wall and floor tiles, as well as for cremation urns. Different types of clay, when used with different minerals and firing conditions, are also used to produce earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain.
Techniques used to make ceramic cremation urns
Custom-made ceramic urns are designed much the same way I was taught in school, but with great skill and technique. Throw a slab of clay on a potter’s wheel, and skillfully raise the urn into the desired shape. Next the artist sculpts and/or carves unique intricacies into the clay as a form of artistic expression. He then bakes it into the “bisque” stage, before finalizing the design with glaze or paint and firing it again. The results are astounding, and completely unique. In this way a ceramic cremation urn can be created to depict the legacy of a loved one whether elegantly simple or exquisite. For those looking for a one of a kind cremation urn, the handmade ceramics by artisans will ensure what you purchase is like no other. Even with the same shape and design, each handmade urn will carry its own nuance and singularity in the details.
Handcrafted ceramic urns
The Dragonfly Ceramic Cremation Urn - Harvest Time is offered by OneWorld Memorials, is a wonderful example of a unique and graceful urn. Completely handcrafted, this urn is reminiscent of old-world pottery, or perhaps what you might find in old pueblos. In this unique design one almost smells the rich earth.
The Rose Bouquet Hand Painted Ceramic Cremation Urn - Large with its smooth porcelain finish offers an elegant and gracious space for the ashes of a loved one -- perhaps for a mom or grandmother who loved roses.
For a beloved pet, you may consider keeping them close to you in an artisan ceramic cremation urn like the Ceramic Dog Cremation Urn - Anubis in Glossy Ebony. Hand made in California, these beautiful, minimalist, statuesque pet urns add a decorative element to your home while preserving your wonderful memories.
If you are looking for a unique way to represent the legacy of someone who has died, or if you are seeking to purchase an urn for yourself, consider the beauty of ceramic cremation urns.
Jerri Haaven is a freelance writer, and a certified Grief Recovery Specialist and Celebrant. When caring for her dad, who suffered from dementia and COPD, Jerri struggled with the negative side effects of his illness. She developed positive outlets to express herself and recover from her loss. Today as a certified Grief Recovery Specialist and Celebrant, she uses her skills to help people who are in the midst of their own personal story of grief and loss.