From the Workbench
The Dignity of Design: A Guide to Sealing Your Heritage Vessel
When we began designing the Heritage Collection in our Western Australian workshop, we asked ourselves a difficult question: How can we make the process of transferring remains less clinical and more dignified for the family?
The answer lay in two specific engineering choices that set our vessels apart from mass-produced alternatives: Zero-Decanting and Mechanical Joinery.
1. The Zero-Decanting Promise
Our interiors are precision-sized to house standard Australian crematorium liners.
Most traditional urns require the distressing task of decanting or “pouring” remains from a plastic bag into a jar. We found this process inconsistent with the respect a life-well-lived deserves.
Every vessel in our studio is precision-engineered to house the standard plastic liner provided by Australian crematoriums. By simply placing the undisturbed liner into the felt-protected interior, the transition is handled with absolute dignity, keeping the remains sealed and secure.
2. Why We Use Internal Pillars
The ‘Pillar and Groove’ system provides superior structural integrity.
To achieve the necessary internal volume while maintaining a slim, architectural profile, we use a Pillar with Tongue and Groove construction. Instead of relying on glue alone, each corner is reinforced with an internal hardwood pillar.
This creates a structural skeleton for the vessel. It allows the solid 12mm timber to “breathe” with the seasons—expanding and contracting naturally—without ever compromising the integrity or the seal of the memorial.
3. A Permanent, Mechanical Seal
Quality is often found in the details you don’t see. We avoid the use of standard wood screws, which can strip the timber grain or loosen over time. Every Heritage and Artisan vessel is fitted with threaded steel inserts.
Using a simple Philips head screwdriver, the base is secured with mechanical bolts into these steel anchors. This creates a fail-safe, permanent bond that ensures the memorial is as enduring as the memories it holds.
