FUNERARY ARTISANS COLLECTIVE
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Our Purpose

Learn More About the Collective

Formation
The
 Funerary Artisans Collective was formed to create an easy-to-find resource for families, natural burial cemeteries, funeral directors, and anyone looking for a funeral vessel made by local artists and craftspeople. We support the artisan directly rather than distributors. Our goal is to assist cottage industry makers of funeral goods in making a living wage for their handwork, and letting the world know what they do so that consumers have a choice about what purchases they make.


Criteria for Membership
​Products offered by members are not juried. Individual artisans are responsible for the quality and availability of their products, and consumers are responsible for communicating appropriately as they complete transactions. Members who self-select to participate agree to the environmental commitment described below.

Environmental Commitment
Our members' funerary products are designed to eliminate harmful and unnecessary environmental hazards. We use biodegradable materials sourced locally or imported with a known carbon footprint from trusted suppliers. Toxic glues, finishes, metal hardware, rubber, synthetic textiles—anything that does not biodegrade naturally on Nature's timeline—are prohibited. At the root is the fundamental imperative that the materials and processes be environmentally sustainable. Our intention is to provide vessels that allow for unimpeded and non-accelerated natural processes to occur.
​

Worker Transparency
Our members are also asked to disclose who is assisting in the making of their products to provide full transparency. Use of child labor, a practice in the making of imported products from some countries, is not accepted.

Specifications
Incidentally, the Federal Trade Commission, the national agency that oversees the funeral industry in the US, makes it clear that consumers who work with funeral homes may not be penalized in any way for providing their own vessels as long as they meet cemetery and crematory requirements. All of our members build to specifications required by both.

Custom Builds
Cottage industry artisans are uniquely positioned to assist with natural products that are important to members of various religious traditions. Check with your local maker for information about vessels appropriate for Jewish and Muslim burial. If you require sizes for large or small adults, or for children or infants, or even a beloved family pet, contact your 
preferred maker for details.
The Funerary Artisans Collective is a group of funeral goods artists and craftspeople who choose to exhibit their work on this site. This website is intended for consumer education only. It is not intended to endorse. All exhibitors participate as independent free agents responsible for the quality and availability of their own products; their work is not juried. All purchases are between the individual artist and the consumer. The Collective is not responsible for transactions or communications between members and consumers.

Funerary Artisans Collective

funeraryartisanscollective@gmail.com
Are you a funerary maker? Would you like to be listed? Join us!
Website design by Lee Webster, Side Effects Publishing
  • Home
  • Meet the Makers
    • Jewelry >
      • David and Nicola Finch
    • Quilts >
      • Zak Foster
      • Lee Webster
    • Shrouds >
      • Jeremy Burrill
      • Dina Stander
      • Christi Whiteley
    • Trays and Boards >
      • Jeremy Burrill
      • Mary Lauren Fraser
      • Mo Walrath
    • Urns >
      • Jeremy Burrill
      • Mary Lauren Fraser
      • George Lang
      • Jessica Palmer
    • Wooden Caskets >
      • Jeremy Burrill
      • Noah Burton
      • Paul Firnstein
      • John Jull
      • Mark Korban
      • Chuck Lakin
      • George Lang
      • Jessica Palmer
      • Jonas Zahn
    • Woven Caskets >
      • Mary Lauren Fraser
      • Sarah Lasswell
      • Mo Walrath
      • India West
  • The Collective
    • Purpose
    • Join Us
  • Contact