Most decorative urns rely on printed graphics, painted surfaces, veneers, or manufactured materials to create visual detail. At StillWood, we take a different approach.
Many of our designs incorporate intarsia, a traditional woodworking art form in which individual pieces of wood are carefully cut, shaped, and assembled to create an image or scene. Unlike painted artwork, the colors come naturally from the wood itself. A dark walnut sky, a maple highlight, a cedar accent, or a poplar feather is not applied afterward—it is built into the design from the beginning.
Because of this philosophy, we avoid painted particle board, printed graphics, and imitation materials whenever possible. The contrast you see in an intarsia panel is created by selecting different hardwood species, each chosen for its natural color, grain, and character. The result is a piece that ages gracefully and remains true to the material it was made from.
A Labor-Intensive Process
Creating an intarsia panel requires significantly more work than applying a printed image or decorative overlay.
Each component must be individually designed, cut, shaped, sanded, and fitted by hand. Even a relatively simple design may contain dozens of separate pieces that must fit together precisely. The process demands patience, careful planning, and countless small adjustments that are often invisible in the finished work.
Unlike mass production, there is no shortcut that allows the craftsman to skip these steps. Every curve, feather, star, border, and detail must be created one piece at a time.
Taking Intarsia Further Through Hand Carving
Traditional intarsia creates visual contrast through wood species and shaping. At StillWood, we often take the process a step further by incorporating hand-carved details.
Carving allows us to add depth, texture, and dimension that cannot be achieved through flat surfaces alone. Feathers can be refined, scrollwork can gain additional character, and focal elements can become more expressive.
The combination of intarsia and carving creates a richer visual experience than either technique can achieve on its own. Light interacts differently with carved surfaces, creating shadows and highlights that change throughout the day and bring the artwork to life.
No Two Pieces Are Ever Truly Identical
One of the defining characteristics of fine woodworking is that wood is a natural material.
Every board contains its own grain patterns, color variations, and figure. Even when two urns are built from the same species and the same design, the wood itself ensures that each piece is unique.
This individuality is not considered a flaw in fine woodworking—it is one of its greatest strengths. The subtle differences found in natural wood are what make handcrafted work feel personal, authentic, and irreplaceable.
Custom Intarsia for Truly Personal Memorials
One of the greatest advantages of intarsia is its flexibility.
Because each design is created from individual components, we can often develop custom artwork based on photographs, meaningful symbols, family emblems, military themes, religious imagery, landscapes, hobbies, or other personal elements that held significance to a loved one.
In some cases, a customer may provide a photograph or concept that serves as the starting point for a completely original design. The result is not simply a personalized plaque, but a memorial piece whose artwork tells a story unique to the individual being honored.
Whether incorporating a cherished symbol, a meaningful scene, or a fully custom composition, intarsia allows us to create memorial urns that go beyond standard designs and become deeply personal tributes.
Built to Be Remembered
At StillWood, we believe a memorial urn should be more than a container. It should be a lasting tribute worthy of the memories it protects.
Through the use of solid hardwoods, traditional intarsia techniques, hand carving, and custom craftsmanship, we strive to create pieces that reflect the uniqueness of the individuals they honor.
No paint. No printed graphics. No shortcuts.
Just carefully selected wood, skilled hands, and the time required to build something meaningful.
