Frequently Asked Questions
 

Pieta Verre urns are crafted from three primary materials: hand-blown glass, lead crystal, and fine porcelain. Some collections use 24% lead double-cased crystal, which produces exceptional clarity and depth of color. Others are made in white Bohemia fine porcelain or European art glass. Each material is selected for its beauty, durability, and suitability for the design it carries.

Yes. Every urn in the Pieta Verre collection is handmade by European artisans — primarily in the Czech Republic. No two pieces are identical. Hand-blowing, hand-cutting, and hand-finishing mean that minor variations in color, form, and surface are part of what makes each urn genuine. These are not mass-produced objects.

Pieta Verre offers urns in four sizes. Adult urns hold the full cremated remains of an adult (180–220 cubic inches). Companion urns are designed to hold the remains of two people (350+ cubic inches). Keepsake urns hold a small portion of ashes and are often chosen when remains are shared among family members. A small number of collections also offer child and pet urn sizes. Size availability varies by collection — please check individual product pages for details.

A general guideline: one pound of body weight yields approximately one cubic inch of cremated remains. A person who weighed 150 lbs would require an urn with at least 150 cubic inches of capacity. Use our Urn Volume Calculator to get a precise recommendation based on body weight. If you are unsure, contact us — we are happy to help you choose.

Personalization is available only on pieces still in process at our factory in the Czech Republic — not on urns already in our Michigan inventory. Because eligibility depends on the specific piece and material, please contact us to confirm what's possible for your selection. Hand engraving is currently offered only on our 24% lead double-cased crystal designs, and is not available on porcelain or on some hand-blown glass pieces. Custom-made porcelain urns can instead be personalized by hand with brush-written inscriptions. Items marked "Preorder" are made to order in the Czech Republic, but Preorder status alone does not guarantee a specific personalization option is available. Factory engraving costs $50.00 where eligible. Alternatively, you're welcome to have engraving done locally through an independent engraver of your choice — note that many U.S. engravers work only with flat surfaces and may not be equipped to engrave a rounded urn, so confirm capability with them first. Please be aware that once an urn has been personalized, whether by us or independently, it is no longer eligible for return or replacement.For a fully bespoke commission — a one-of-a-kind urn designed specifically for your loved one — visit our Bespoke Atelier. Custom orders typically take 8-10 weeks from design approval to delivery.

Orders can be placed directly through our website. Browse by collection, select your urn, choose any personalization options, and proceed to checkout. If you need guidance choosing between pieces or have questions about a specific design, contact us at info@pragueimports.com or by phone at +1 734.418.2618. Our team is available Monday through Friday, 9 AM–5 PM EST.

Standard orders ship within 3 business days via UPS Ground. Delivery typically takes an additional 5-7 business days depending on your location. Orders to Hawaii and Alaska may require additional transit time. For international orders, delivery timeframes vary by destination — you will receive an estimate at checkout. Expedited shipping options are available on request; contact us for details. If your urn is needed by a specific date — for example, an upcoming service — please contact us to check timing before ordering. In-stock items may qualify for 2-day air shipping (24-hour processing before dispatch); custom and Preorder items are made to order and cannot be expedited beyond their standard production time.

Yes. Pieta Verre ships to customers across North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. International shipping rates and delivery times are calculated at checkout. Custom and bespoke orders ship from Europe via UPS Expedited at a flat rate of $220, fully insured.

Yes, with some planning. The TSA permits cremated remains in both carry-on and checked bags. For carry-on travel, the container must not produce an opaque image on the x-ray scanner — TSA officers will not open cremation containers under any circumstances. We recommend using a temporary travel container if flying with ashes in a glass or crystal urn. For full TSA guidance, visit TSA.gov.

Non-customized urns may be returned within 30 days of purchase, provided they are unused and in original packaging. To initiate a return, contact us at info@pragueimports.com to receive a Return Merchandise Number (RMN) — returns without an RMN will not be accepted. Custom and personalized urns are non-refundable. Please see our full Shipping & Returns policy for details.

Porcelain, glass, and crystal urns should all be cared for the same way: dust carefully with a soft, lint-free cloth. For deeper cleaning, a mild, non-abrasive cleaner applied gently with a soft cloth is sufficient. Avoid harsh chemicals, abrasive materials, or ultrasonic cleaners.

Yes. Pieta Verre urns are available through a wholesale and private label program for funeral homes, memorial galleries, and distributors. We offer display collections, private label programs, and custom production. Contact us at info@pragueimports.com or +1 734.418.2618 to discuss partnership options.

We accept all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) and PayPal. All transactions are processed through a secure payment gateway. Sales tax of 6% applies to orders delivered within Michigan.

Every urn is shipped with the utmost care, packed in a double-wall box with multiple layers of sealed protective packaging and clearly labeled fragile. Damage in transit is rare, but all shipments are insured, and in the unlikely event it occurs, we will make it right. Please inspect your package upon receipt to confirm the item arrived in perfect condition. If breakage occurred in transit, contact us as soon as possible at 734.418.2618 or care@pietaverre.com — claims must be reported within 7 days of delivery. Photograph the outer packaging and the damaged item, and email the images to care@pietaverre.com. Retain all original packaging until you receive further instructions from our team.