Stainless steel urn 'Elips' small

A small urn shaped around the circle of life

Some losses are too significant for an ordinary object to hold. The 'Elips' keepsake urn begins with a simple idea: take the circle, the oldest symbol of continuity, and tilt it. The ellipse that results is the shape this urn is built around, chosen deliberately to reflect a life held close.

Designed and handcrafted in the Netherlands

Each 'Elips' is made by hand in the Netherlands by specialist craftspeople using marine-grade 316 stainless steel. Grade 316 contains a higher proportion of molybdenum than the more common grade 304, giving it significantly better resistance to corrosion, salt and moisture. The brushed finish is directional: the polishing lines catch the light differently depending on the angle, so the steel carries a shifting, quiet lustre rather than a flat shine. Stainless steel is an alloy of iron, chromium, nickel and carbon, and at this grade it asks very little of you in terms of maintenance.

Because each urn is made to order by hand, the lead time is four to six weeks from the point of ordering. In practice it is often sooner, but the quoted window is honest rather than optimistic. If you would like to know the current lead time before ordering, our team is happy to let you know.

Filling the urn

Everything you need to fill and seal the urn is included: an ash bag, cable tie, cleaning cloth and double-sided sealing tape. The tape is rated for high tensile load, so the seal is both airtight and secure. You can use the ash bag as a funnel by letting part of it hang outside the opening, filling it, then tucking the sealed bag fully inside before pressing the lid flush. If you prefer to place the ashes directly into the urn without a bag, a small funnel helps avoid spillage. The grade 316 construction makes loose placement a genuine option rather than a compromise.

If you would rather not fill the urn yourself, your funeral director or the crematorium can do this for you. Should the urn ever need to be reopened at a later stage, that can also be arranged.

Built for indoor and outdoor use

The 'Elips' is suited to both indoor and outdoor settings. Grade 316 stainless steel resists weathering, moisture and temperature change, making it a reliable choice for a garden or memorial space as well as inside the home.

Practical considerations

This urn for ashes carries a ten-year guarantee, which reflects the confidence placed in the craftspeople who make it. You also have a 30-day return window if, for any reason, it is not the right choice. The airtight closure performs equally well with or without an ash bag, so either approach suits long-term placement.

Laser engraving

Laser engraving is available as a personalisation option for this cremation urn. A focused laser beam, guided by computer, cuts into the steel surface with precision. The engraved image can be rendered in grey tones or in colour. Image quality matters: the higher the resolution of the file you supply, the sharper the result. When you place your order, you can select the engraving option and upload your chosen image or text directly.

The symbolism, if it speaks to you

The ellipse is the circle tilted: the path of an orbit, a shape that returns to itself. It was chosen here because it suggests continuity. If you are looking for something that holds quiet meaning, the geometry of the 'Elips' does exactly that. A name or image engraved on the surface makes it entirely specific to the person it commemorates.

If you have questions about lead times, engraving or filling, we are happy to talk it through with you at your own pace.