Urns Inspired by Canopic Jars

This weekend I’m trimming a batch of urns. They’re ultimately lidded jars, but over the past few years I’ve been making more of them deliberately, alongside a few commissions, creating urns for people’s loved ones, both human and animal. I’d like to begin offering more in my online sales, and I’m still working out which shapes I prefer, though I’m leaning towards the taller, ginger-jar, almost canopic forms, (do Google these are they're fascinating objects).

It’s a real honour to make these, and part of what set me down this path was a request from my father. He’s a craftsperson too, and has said he’d like to be cremated and placed in something he can see made. That’s a sobering thought, and it comes with a certain weight, but here we are. In this video I’m showing how I trim pots like these from their rough, thrown forms. There’s a lot to consider, especially when it comes to ensuring each part fits together seamlessly.

Have you ever made an urn? I’d love to hear about your experiences if you have. I think it’s a beautiful idea to have a container that’s handmade, one that reflects the aesthetic ideals of the person it’s intended for. I know it’s a difficult subject, so thank you for taking the time to watch.

Kevin Scott, tool-maker and renaissance man: / kevin_scott
Tortuga Tools: https://tortugatools.com
A good place for classic tungsten carbide trimmers: https://www.rdpottery.com

(I haven't been paid to promote any of the above)

• ORDER MY BOOK: https://geni.us/bymyhands

• If you want to learn how to throw a pot, you might like my 'A Beginner's Guide' series: • How to Throw a Pot — A Beginner's Guide

• Find out much more about my work here: https://linktr.ee/floriangadsby

⏱ • Timestamps:
0:00 - Introduction
0:54 - The thrown components, (lids and bodies)
2:24 - Trimming the first urn
4:09 - My favourite trimmer for turning straight lines
6:13 - Forcing the opening to be smaller...
7:11 - My new Tortuga Tools tungsten carbide trimmer
8:59 - Finishing the base of the urn
11:20 - Quality control on the lid, the most important part
12:00 - Trimming the second urn
14:34 - Refining the heavy lid
16:37 - Finishing the foot-ring & stamping the pot with my maker's mark
17:36 - The other urns I made
18:53 - Which do you like best?
19:28 - Clean up


*I throw using both a Rohde HMT 500 & 600 potter's wheel and fire using Rohde kilns too, the electric is a TE-200 and the gas kiln is a KG-340.
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Website – http://www.floriangadsby.com