A Different Kind of Cremation Urn

Crafting a Bronze Cremation Urn

The large sheets of solid bronze are heavy. I drag one across the shop and wrestle it up onto the saw horses. The patterns for the shapes are laid out and marked. A few rough cuts, and then I settle down and carefully trim the pieces to their final shape.  The shapes are carried over to the anvil to apply texture to the individual pieces of bronze. A variety of anvils and odd pieces of metal are used to impress the bronze with lines, hatches, and small dents. This is a crucial process, because it gives the bronze complexity, layers, and sense of memory - layers of memory. I linger with this part of the process until I am satisfied.

Now to shape the bronze into its final curves. Using several different kinds of anvils I draw out the three dimensional curves. This takes a boatbuilder's eye - all the curves must be "fair" and well-defined. It takes a while to get them just right, so that the parts fit together perfectly. Once I'm satisfied, I tack the corners and edges in a few places with a large MIG welder. This holds the parts together until the smaller, more precise TIG welder can be used. The TIG welder takes longer and takes more care, but it will trace along each joint and fuse the parts into a careful, seamless whole. Its tiny arc is as hot and bright as the sun.

An opening is formed on the bottom of each urn and a cover plate fitted carefully and bolted down tight. Grinding, sanding, and burnishing bring a satin sheen to the urn and prepare it for the patina. The ancient patina solutions are applied over and over until the bronze glows with depth and warmth.

Metalcraft is loud and fiery; but in and around all the noise and sparks there is the quiet heart of the matter. Each urn is crafted to the highest standards. Each urn is unique and personal. I am honored to do this work and I value this small connection to those who are grieving. When the work is complete, I carefully wrap and box it for shipment. Since I live and work on an old farmstead, I have a little drive ahead of me. With thoughts and prayers for the family I have made an urn for, I roll down the long gravel drive, past the pond, past the woods and fields, into town.