Ceramic urns, for many, bring to mind the famous clay sculpting scene in the classic 1990 movie Ghost. In that scene, the characters played by Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze were not necessarily creating ceramic urns, but, actually, it’s unclear exactly what they were making. It very well could have been a ceramic urn.
In the scene, which has been voted in numerous polls as the most romantic movie moment of all time – beating out famous scenes from classic romantic movies such as Love Story, Titanic, and even Harry Met Sally – Demi Moore begins by placing a piece of clay on a pottery wheel and slowly molding it into shape, just as everyone who creates ceramic urns does.
Eventually, Moore’s dead lover, played by Swayze, appears mysteriously next to her, and the two mold the pottery together in a very sensual, romantic performance that alludes to the very thing that ceramic urns, in general, represent: eternal unity, even after death.
Ceramic urns are made according to ancient techniques that, in many ways, have changed very little over the years. And their method of production is just one way in which ceramic urns represent eternal unity. The other is their overall style. Many modern artists who design and make ceramic urns follow the traditions and styles use by cultures of yesteryear. Artist Otto Heino is just one example. Heino is a veteran maker of ceramic urns and other ceramic pottery, and he has been creating ceramic urns since the days of World War II. Many modern makers of ceramic urns follow his established style, but, even he mimics the style of artists who created ceramic urns centuries before. Like Demi Moore did with Patrick Swayze in the famous scene, Otto Heino builds ceramic urns today with the spirits of the past. And, no doubt, future builders of ceramic urns will do the same with Heino’s spirit. Other well known artists who make ceramic urns include Rudy Autio, Clayton Bailey, Peter Volkus, and Adrian Saxe. These people all create ceramic urns, and other ceramic pottery, while following the traditions established years before their time. They, in effect, are creating ceramic urns with the ghosts of centuries worth of other artists giving them a helping hand, just as Patrick Swayze helped Demi Moore with her creation in the famous scene.
While ceramic pottery, in general, has a huge variety of uses, it is ceramic urns – with their practical connection to death by playing host to human ashes – that, perhaps, best unite ceramic art to the rest of humanity – past and present. People whose ashes are stored in ceramic pottery can are participating in an age-old human tradition (ceramic urns have been, for centuries, one of the most common products of ceramic art), but, because ceramic urns are still among the most sturdy urns available, the people who they memorialize will be remembered for centuries.
MEMORIALS.com: Your Premier Online Source for all your Funeral and Memorial needs. We live up to our name and reputation our staff is standing by to assist you, all products with No Sales Tax & Free Delivery.
