Your loss is personal and your person was beautiful

I’m Alexis Haselberger, the human behind Anima Ceramica Studio.

And in 2025, I lost my dad to terminal brain cancer. It was devastating. My mom, sisters and I decided to split up his ashes, so we could all have a little of him, and we also sprinkled some of him on his beloved bamboo groves around his house.

But, what to do with the ashes we kept?

None of us wanted a huge, traditional alter style urn, because that didn’t represent him and it didn’t fit the feel of our homes and design choices.

And my dad? Well, he had excellent taste and he would have rolled over in his grave (if he’d had one) if put him in something ugly.

We found that the commercially available urns were, well, quite ugly.

So, I knew what I had to do! I needed to use my ceramics skills to make some bespoke urns, beautiful enough to honor my dad’s excellent design eye, and to fit in seamlessly in our homes.

And then I couldn’t get the idea out of my head: Why should we be the only family to get to honor our dad with a beautiful object?

Answer: we shouldn’t.

And so I started Anima Ceramica Studio, so that I could help other families honor their loved ones, with vessels as unique and beautiful as they were.

I keep nothing in stock, I make each vessel for the person (or pet!) it will contain and the home in which it will live. And it starts with a call or an intake form (your choice) so that I can learn more about how you want to honor your loved one.

FAQs

  • I do, one at a time, here in San Francisco. Most pieces are thrown on the wheel, some are hand-built, and all of them are glazed by hand. There is no team and no production line. When you email, I am the person who answers.

  • No. I make and ship an empty vessel. You, or a funeral director if you prefer, place the ashes into it. Nothing needs to be sent to me, and I never handle anyone’s remains.

  • Not at all. Most people arrive with one or two things: a color their person loved, a shape they keep circling back to, or simply a story about that person or pet.

    That is plenty to start with. The intake form is built to walk you through this process, and if you would rather talk it through, we can.

  • When several people are deciding together, a set is often the answer, because everyone keeps a piece instead of one person keeping everything.

    If it is one piece and tastes differ, tell me and I will help you find the version that holds more than one person’s idea.

  • Generally, six to eight weeks for a single piece, counted from the day I have your completed intake form, plus shipping.

    Sets take longer. If you have a service or a date in mind, tell me before you order and I will tell you honestly whether it is possible.

  • Yes, and more people do this than you might expect.

    Choosing your own vessel while you’re alive and well is a real kindness to the people who will be handling everything else later.

  • Each vessel is a custom piece of art and currently urns for human remains are priced at $2725 and urns for pets are priced at $1650.

    Prices include applicable taxes and shipping in the continental US.

    Sets are the exception and are quoted based on the because the number of pieces and sizes requested. If you are interested in a set, please email hello@animaceramica.com for a quote.

  • Everything ships packed carefully.

    If a piece arrives damaged, send me photos within five days and I will repair it, remake it, or refund you.

  • Shipping within the continental US is included in the price.

    I can ship elsewhere, but I’ll send you a separate invoice for the shipping, and you’ll be responsible for any customs and duties.

Got a question I didn’t answer above?

Submit the form to ask and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.