How to Make a Cremation Urn
An urn is a final resting place for a loved one that is used instead of a grave to honor the dead. The urn allows the actual ashes of the departed to be displayed in a prominent way, and remembered in that way instead of having to visit a gravesite.
A coiled clay pottery technique can be employed by almost anyone to create this final resting place, and the creation of the urn can be in and of itself quite therapeutic to the mourning process.
Items You Will Need:
- 25 pound bag of clay
- 12-inch wire
- 12x12 piece of plywood
- Black plastic
- Bucket of water
- Old cloth
- Plastic wrap
- Small Bowl
- Spray bottle
- Water
- Determine the appropriate size for the urn. A good rule of thumb is one cubic inch for each pound of weight for the deceased.
- Establish a work area that you can make a mess in. This will be a lengthy process, and will make quite a mess particularly if you are not used to working with clay. Lay plastic over the table that you will be using, as splashing water will be a factor.
- Fill a small bowl with water. This should be available to dip your fingers in as you begin the process of constructing the urn.
- Use the wire to cut a fistful of clay and place it on the 12-inch by 12-inch piece of plywood covered with plastic wrap. The support of this base will make it easier to move the piece as development of the urn proceeds.
- Begin by rolling the clay into a snakelike form. Try to keep the coil’s diameter equal along the entire length. A good rule of thumb is to use a 1-inch diameter at this point in the process.
- Create a spiral along the length of the coil by twisting it around itself. Smooth the coils together using your fingers on both sides of the base.
- Add coils until the base is approximately 10 by 5-inches. Work with the clay until it is pushed into a shape that you are satisfied with.
- Continue adding coils one at a time on top of the outer most ring of the base. The best way to accomplish this step is to score each previous row and then adding water. The scoring plus the water will help the clay fuse together connecting the rows.
- Continue adding coils until you reach a height of approximately 15-inches.
- Create the lid by repeating the steps for the base. Ensure that the lid is slightly larger than the top of the urn.
- Add a distinctive knob using a small piece of clay. A simple ball scored into any shape that is desired will suffice. Ensure that you firmly attach it to the top of the lid.
- Add a single coil to the bottom of your lid so that it will fit tightly on the urn.
- Experiment with various textures in order to find one to your liking. Different textures can be achieved from many different objects that can be found in your everyday environment.
- Ensure that you cover your clay with plastic wrap after each sculpting session. If sessions are going to have hours or days in between them, be certain to spray the urn with water so that it will stay moist. Once the urn is finished, you will want to loosely cover it with plastic. If the urn dries out too quickly, it could crack. Continue to keep it in a cool place until it is completely dry.
- Locate a kiln and keep the original information of the clay type, as this will determine the appropriate temperature to fire the urn at. If desired, glaze can be applied at this stage.