An urn is a vase, ordinarily covered, that usually has a narrowed neck above a footed pedestal. In Classical terms, an urn is a large decorative covered container of wood, metal, pottery, etc.In furniture, it was a large wooden vase-like container which was usually set on a pedestal on either side of a side table.This was the characteristic of Adam designs and also of Hepplewhite 's work.rns were also used as decorative turnings at the cross points of stretchers in 16th and 17th century furniture designs. The urn and the vase were often set on the central pedestal in a broken or swan's neck pediment.