Celestial Dolphins Raku Keepsake

Dolphins circle the body of this raku-fired keepsake, set against the crackled, faintly metallic ground the raku process leaves behind. The piece is round rather than columnar, 5 inches across and 5 inches tall, so it reads more as a small covered jar than as a scaled-down urn.

Sixty cubic inches is the working figure. That is a generous share of an adult's ashes for one relative to keep, or the complete ashes of a child or a dog up to about 60 pounds, going by the standard rule of a cubic inch per pound of body weight. It suits a shelf or a bedside table and is not built for burial.

• 60 cu in, which covers one family member's share when ashes are divided
• Round profile just 5 inches across, so a shallow shelf takes it easily
• Raku glaze is porous; keep it indoors and away from damp