Anointed Guardians

This series consists of four vessels based on Egyptian canopic jars. Each form was blown in the hotshop, with the jar heads hot billet cast in glass. The surfaces are sandblasted with images of plants commonly used in aromatherapy: eucalyptus, lavender, rosemary, and frankincense.

These are the most prominent smells I remember from my father’s workshop. He was an aromatherapist, and these plants were part of his daily work. This piece is made in his memory.

Smell has a strong connection to memory. Even years later, these scents can bring back vivid moments and emotions. Anointed Guardians explores how objects, like vessels or smells, can carry memory, especially during times of grieving.

The jars are empty, but they are made to hold something intangible: connection, remembrance, and the presence of someone now gone.

Blown, engraved, hot billet cast glass, 2024

Photo credit: Dave Williams