Memento Mori

I have wanted a candle hurricane lamp for a long time and found it at the local market today.
The candle would not settle properly so, instead of sand or stones, I put in the bottom of the container some of the liquefaction silt that is still on my porch .
The old man in the background is my great grandfather who was a coppersmith. He made the domes for our Basilica which is now broken. His skills have been lost over time - how can we rebuild without him?