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 options all the way from the traditional Memorial Urn to the marine-themed Memorial Float to the innovative Memorial Orb. Each is described below.

photo to right by Pamela Collins Pruitt

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 3" or 4" diameter sphere comprised of multiple 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.

We currently charge $95 (plus shipping) for a 3" Memorial Orb, and $120 for a 4" one.

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, but with much more glass used to make the float more durable. Any colors and patterns seen in the other floats may be used. Once blown, the opening where the float breaks off the pipe is left open, then ground flat once cooled. You can add the ashes yourself, then cement a glass "cookie" (provided) over the opening to seal the ashes in (alternatively, we can add the ashes - for a small additional charge).

Memorial Floats can be made in a variety of sizes - 4" ($50), 6" ($80), or 8" ($120) - 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.