Custom sculpture & urns in Washington D.C.
Local drop-off available
Custom woodworking in the DMV
Our family doesn’t have the traditional story of long held artisan secrets passed down among the generations. We developed a shared passion for wood working randomly, semi-simultaneously, and late enough in life that it became a source of reconnection. The process began in Great Falls National Park in Southern Maryland. One of our brothers camped with hobbiests who showed him woodworking. As the hobby traded hands among family members and eventually grew to almost an addiction, projects evolved into more intricate forms of the art. Now from our studio in Fairfax (a few minutes away from Tyson’s Corner) we have turned our family connection into a way to preserve yours.
At Mont Arbor, we help families in Washington D.C. keep moments alive. With care, artistry, and a little science, we turn your memories into keepsakes that feel as special years from now as they did the day you made them.
Custom urns for pets
From your photos to your front door
1. Submit photo(s)
We can sculpt a replica of your photos or use them as inspiration to create a unique relief of the subject.
2. We sculpt your urn
We carve and hollow earn urn by hand on a lathe and cut your sculpture from solid wood adding it directly into the side.
3. Receive your heirloom
We ship nationwide and offer local delivery to the Washington D.C. metro area.
You can learn more about our process by visiting our About Us page or Woodworking Blog. We also have more photos of Dog Urns in our Gallery.
Choosing the right pet urn:
Experts recommend urn sizing be roughly equal to body weight prior to cremation. Each pound should equal one cubic inch of urn capacity. For example, a person who weighed 160 pounds will typically need an urn with a capacity of at least 160 cubic inches. When in doubt, please contact us for guidance on how to select your sizing.
This made-to-order urn is turned from a single block of solid hardwood in the Mont Arbor studio in Virginia, USA. Choose the wood and the size when you order.
Each vessel is shaped on the lathe and finished by hand. No two blocks are alike: grain, figure and color change from one to the next, so your urn will differ in small ways from the one photographed. We photograph each finished urn and send you the images before it ships. With reasonable care a solid hardwood piece like this lasts for generations.
Woods:
Walnut — dense and fine-grained; deep chocolate to purple-brown
Maple — hard maple; pale cream with a fine, even grain and occasional figure
Ash — cream to light tan with a bold, open grain that stays visible under the finish
Cherry — warm red-brown with a satin grain; darkens noticeably in its first year in daylight
White oak — tan to light brown, dense and heavy, with a distinct ray fleck
Sizes:
Pet - 100 cubic inches of capacity
Petite - 150 cubic inches of capacity
Full - 250 cubic inches of capacity
As a general rule, choose a capacity equal to or greater than original weight in pounds. If you need a larger urn urn, we can accommodate you, just let us know prior to checkout.
A bronze threaded lid closes the urn securely and is designed to keep working through seasonal changes in heat and humidity. Each urn is completely sealable. Urns ship empty; the lid can be opened and resealed when remains are transferred.
Current completion time: [6–8] weeks.
A deposit of 50% of the total price begins your order and covers materials and about half the labor. Place a deposit or schedule an introductory call to start. The balance is due when your completed piece is ready and before it ships.
This made-to-order urn is thrown from porcelain, trimmed, sculpted, glazed, and fired by hand in the Mont Arbor studio in Virginia, USA. Choose the size and the glaze when you order.
This Lucerne model carries inlay details and the vertical channels that run around the lower body with inlaid bands on the shoulder and lid framing the form above. Fluting is one of the oldest ornaments in ceramics and architecture; under the glaze it gives the base a rhythm of light and shadow. Glaze color is chosen from the options offered for this design. Fired porcelain is among the most durable materials made; with proper care a piece like this can last for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Each urn is glazed and finished by hand, so glaze depth and surface vary slightly from piece to piece. We photograph each finished urn and send you the images before it ships.
Sizes:
Pet - 100 cubic inches of capacity
Petite - 150 cubic inches of capacity
Full - 250 cubic inches of capacity
As a general rule, choose a capacity equal to or greater than your pet's weight in pounds.
A bronze threaded lid closes the urn securely and is designed to keep working through seasonal changes in heat and humidity. Each urn is completely sealable. Urns ship empty; the lid can be opened and resealed when remains are transferred.
Care: wipe with a soft, damp cloth; avoid knocks and sudden changes in temperature.
Current completion time: [4–6] weeks, or [6–8] weeks from sketch approval with a sculpture.
A deposit of 50% of the total price, shown beside each option above, begins your order and covers materials and about half the labor. Place a deposit or schedule an introductory call to start; if you choose the sculpture, the sketch follows your deposit. The balance is due when your completed piece is ready and before it ships.
Our wooden custom pets urns
Each of our custom wood urns begins with a piece of solid kiln-dried timber carefully chosen for quality and beauty. Because each tree is unique, each urn will also have its own unique grain pattern and subtle coloring. Rather than see these variations as defects, we highlight these natural differences as we sculpt and polish each piece. Our process ensures each urn is as unique as both the sustainably-sourced wood we created it from and the beloved person or pet it was made to honor.
Wood selection
Every urn begins with carefully selected and sustainably-sourced hardwood. We personally inspect each log for beautiful grain patterns, coloring, structure, and humidity before we prepare it for wood turning.
Wood Turning
Your prepared timber is then carefully sculpted by hand on a lathe. This process turns the initial piece into the urn that will honor your loved one. This process can take anywhere from one to several days depending on the size, grain pattern, and any residual moisture.
Portrait Carving
Using your photographs, we create detailed relief carvings that will adorn the side of your urn. The result captures your loved one’s unique features such as the curve of their ears, the expression in their eyes, the personality that made them irreplaceable.
Hand-Applied Finishes
We finish every urn with multiple coats of natural oil or colored finishes that are hand-rubbed to bring out the wood's character. This creates a durable, smooth with a warm, natural sheen that deepens beautifully over time.
Premium wood options for pet urns
Choose the perfect wood species for your custom pet urn. Each offers unique grain patterns, colors, and characteristics. Cedar is available for box urns only; all woods available for traditional and sculptural styles:
Aromatic Cedar - Warm reddish-brown wood with beautiful natural aroma.
Red Oak - Warm, honey-toned wood with prominent grain patterns.
Black Walnut - Rich, dark chocolate brown wood with elegant grain.
Cherry - Warm reddish-brown wood that deepens with age.
Maple - Light, creamy wood with subtle grain.
If you’d like us to create something outside of what we currently offer, we’d love to connect with you. Send us a brief message explaining your vision and we will connect on the best way to bring it to life.
Have something special in mind?
Serving locally and nationwide
Our family business is proud to serve the D.C. metro area for custom sculpture and urn creation. We are happy to provide free local drop off in Washington D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia to ensure your custom urn reaches you in perfect condition. For our valued clients nationwide, we provide secure shipping options and insured delivery. If you are ready to create a lasting and beautiful work of art for your pet you can place an order or contact us to start the conversation about your custom project.