Ocean Beaches Glassblowing & Gallery

We often get questions about how the ashes of a loved one can be handled with glass. There are a number of choices that Bob creates, each with different characteristics.

These choices include the Memorial Orb, the Memorial Float, and the Memorial Urn.

Bob has been creating Memorial Orbs (examples to left) since he started his studio in 2005. The Orb is a solid piece of glass encasing a small amount of ash of a loved one between layers of molten glass.

More specifically, the Memorial Orb is a 4" diameter sphere comprised of 3 layers of clear glass, with the ashes being between the inner and middle layers, and the desired colors being between the middle and outer layers. You may pick whatever colors and pattern of color you'd like for the Orb.

The Memorial Orb is created right in our glassblowing shop, and ashes are handled meticulously throughout the process. You're invited to witness the process - we often have people make appointments to come in and watch them be created. Once created, we cool them very slowly (over 2-3 days) to minimize the chance of the Orb cracking.

Being a solid piece of glass, the Memorial Orb is the sturdiest of our Memorial pieces. Also, since each Orb requires only a small amount of ashes, it's possible to make a set of them for multiple family members.

If you'd like to order an Orb, either call or email us to discuss your options.

The Memorial Float (examples to right) is a blown glass sphere that may be used to contain the ashes of a loved one.

With the Memorial Float, the piece is blown in the usual manner of a Float - using any colors and patterns that are desired - and then leaving open the opening where the Float was broken off the blowpipe. Once the piece is cool, the opening is ground flat, ashes may be added, and a glass "cookie" cemented over the opening to seal the ashes in.

Memorial Floats can be made in just about any size, from 3" to 12" in diameter, providing the flexibility of keeping a loved one all in one place or sharing them between family members.

The Memorial Urn (examples to left) is a large footed vase, usually with an accent color over a solid background (though the colors may be whatever you'd like). The Memorial Urn also comes with a fitted blown glass lid that may be either left on the Urn loosely or cemented in place.

The Memorial Urn is sized with the intent of containing the entire remains of a loved one, though multiple Urns could also be created for other family members.