Memorial & Sympathy
A quiet way to remember,
made by hand.
The Potter’s Hands Studio creates handmade memorial and sympathy pottery in Mississippi — wheel-thrown stoneware carved with names, dates, scripture, and Southern florals using the sgraffito technique. Artist April Dupuis makes carved memorial crosses, keepsake vessels, and sympathy gifts, and can preserve funeral flowers in resin within a piece. Each is one of a kind, and each commission moves at your pace.
How a memorial commission works
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Share their story
Tell April about the person you’re remembering — a name, a date, a verse or hymn line, the flowers they loved. Share as much or as little as you like. There is no deadline on this step.
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April designs with you
April sketches a design and works with you until it feels right. The piece is then thrown, coated in porcelain slip, and carved by hand — every line drawn from what you shared.
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Made to keep
The piece is glazed, kiln-fired twice, and carefully packed and shipped. Most memorial commissions are finished in 4–6 weeks once the design is settled.
Ways to remember
Crosses & scripture pieces
A carved stoneware cross or plaque with a name, dates, and a verse that carried them — carved by hand, line by line, and made to hang in the home for generations.
Keepsake vessels & flowers
Flowers from the service, preserved in resin and inlaid into a carved vessel or platter. Small keepsakes can be inlaid as well. About flower preservation.
Sympathy gifts
For someone grieving now — a handmade piece that lasts longer than flowers. Ready-made pieces ship within days, and gift cards let them choose when they’re ready.
- Made in
- Mississippi, USA — every piece thrown and carved by April Dupuis
- At your pace
- Commissions take 4–6 weeks once the design is settled — there is no rush to begin
- Materials
- Stoneware, porcelain slip, lead-free glazes, resin-preserved flowers
- Need a gift soon
- Ready-made sympathy pieces ship within days
Memorial pottery questions
Can flowers from the funeral be preserved in a piece?
Yes. Dried flowers from the service can be preserved in resin and inlaid into a carved vessel, platter, or cross. April will walk you through how to dry and send them — and if the service has already passed, pressed or dried flowers you’ve kept work as well.
Can names, dates, or scripture be carved into the piece?
Yes. Names, dates, verses, hymn lines, and florals are carved by hand into the porcelain slip using the sgraffito technique, so they are part of the piece itself — not printed or painted on.
How long does a memorial commission take?
Most pieces are finished in 4–6 weeks once the design is settled. The design conversation itself has no timeline — many people begin months after a loss, and that is just fine.
I need a sympathy gift this week — what do you suggest?
Ready-made pieces from the shop ship within days, and a gift card lets the recipient choose a piece — or begin a memorial commission — whenever they feel ready.
Can you make a memorial piece for a pet?
Yes. April makes carved memorial vessels, plaques, and crosses for pets, and can inlay a collar tag or dried flowers. See the custom pet pottery page for details.
Whenever you’re ready
Share a name and a few words. April will reply personally with ideas, pricing, and a gentle timeline.
Begin a commission