Black Mother of Pearl Keepsake

Mother-of-pearl inlay is set into black lacquer in flat pieces, so the surface catches light differently from every angle. Underneath it is brass. The urn stands 3.25 inches, small enough to live on a nightstand rather than a mantel.

Roughly 5 cubic inches of capacity means a portion, not a whole. Families usually put a spoonful or two into each of these and place the rest in a full-size urn or scatter it. This one loads from the top: the lid unthreads and screws back down against its seat, which is easier to manage than upending a bottom-loading keepsake over a table.

• Top-opening lid, so you can fill it without turning the urn over
• Stands 3.25 inches, low enough for a bookshelf or a bedside table
• Each shell piece is cut and laid by hand, so the pattern differs from urn to urn