How Are Urns Made?

The most common use of urns today is to hold the ashes of the cremated dead. Urns are made out of a variety of materials; how they are made depends on the material used.

History

Urns historically were vases on a pedestal with a narrow neck and were made out of the most popular art mediums used in a geographical area during a particular time period. Methods used for making them varied with mediums.

Types

Today, an urn may be made of hand-blown art glass; molded ceramics or porcelain; carved or turned stone such as marble; mediums cast in molds like metals and concrete; cloisonne; various woods and even biodegradable materials.

Hand Blown Glass Urns

Hand-blown glass urns start from sand that is heated until it becomes molten glass. It is blown into a variety of shapes by artisans who add chemical elements to create colors.

Natural Stone Urns

Natural stone urns begin as a block and are made into an urn by turning on a stone lathe, or by sculpting with tools.

Natural Wood Urns

Wood urns are either turned with a wood lathe and polished into beautiful classical urn shapes or constructed into frames, clocks or a variety of decorative boxes.

References

• Cremation Urns
• The Urn

Resources

• Urns: Resource Information Guide
• History of Cremation