History & Tradition

Whether headstone or columbarium plaque, cremation urn or memorial jewelry, memorials act as host for those left behind, of an individual lost. They serve as a touchstone that provides us with a place to visit and remember a lost loved one. Part of the visitation is to remember things that we feel are important or unique about those who have passed. American MemoryCraft memorial vessels bring beauty and art to those memories. They can help you remember your loved one in full color, just as they lived their lives.

We hope you will find comfort in our brief overview of the history and & tradition of glass memorial urns.

An Ancient Tradition

Cremation is an honored tradition which allows families and communities help a loved one who has died to transition to their spiritual destiny. There may be no way to know how long ago cremation became a normal method. However, there is evidence that it was typical as far back as the Stone Age.

Cremation Urns

Cremation urns have long been used as a traditional method of memorial. The oldest known cremation urn was found in China. It dates as far back as 7000 BC, indicating an ancient history & tradition. For the Greeks, Syrians, Romans, and Hungarians cremation was a common practice. For a time, prior to a cultural moratorium, cremation was also practiced all the way west to Ireland. Likewise, to the east, cremation urns were used by the Slavs, residents of the western Caucasus mountains, and throughout China.

Urns in Rome and the Classical World

The use of handblown glass cremation urns began to appear in Roman civilization around the 1st Century AD. Contemporaneous examples are also found throughout the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf. Because silica—in the form of sand surrounding the Mediterranean sea—was widely available, glass production became common practice. Archaeological evidence shows that it proved to be a very practical material for making vessels. Blown glass cremation urns have been found in the famous Columbaria of Rome. It’s noteworthy that these urns remain intact and still protect their priceless contents after thousands of years. Examples of these amazing artifacts stand out for the creative range of design the Romans used in form and decoration. Even two thousand years ago, people used beauty to comfort the loss of a loved one.

America’s New Tradition

Since traditional burial has been prevalent for most of US history, cremation has had a minority place in America. Only recently have American families and some religious traditions moved overwhelmingly toward cremation. Many choose cremation as an earth-friendly choice over burial, leaving valuable land for other uses, including agriculture and wildlife.

By 2020, many US states will approach 80% of families choosing cremation over burial. This growing tradition has introduced more methods of memorial as well. Many families choose to spread most cremains while preserving small amounts for visitation. Therefore, ash sharing among family members has become more common, using small, token-sized mementos for a beautiful remembrance. Furthermore, statuesque and more decorative and colorful urns have expanded the use of glass front niches in columbaria and ground burial in vaults for visitation in traditional cemetery “Urn Gardens.”

Whatever your tradition and wherever you choose to keep your memories, remember the color of their life with American MemoryCraft Urns and Keepsakes.

Get In Touch

To send an inquiry regarding pricing, ordering, design, special sizes or colors, please use the contact form below. We are always grateful for customer testimonials and invite you to submit yours here as well. Please let us know if we can include it on our Testimonials page.

Download our urn brochure!

You can contact us by phone at 541-858-2555. We look forward to speaking with you! Contact us by mail at:

Rogue Art Glass, LLC
PO Box 760
Grants Pass, OR 97528

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