Handmade Sterling Silver Jewellery Inspired by Nature, Memory & Curiosity
Olivia Dryden is an Adelaide-based jewellery artist creating handcrafted sterling silver jewellery inspired by the natural world. Working with botanical castings, ocean treasures, freshwater pearls and ethically sourced natural specimens, each piece celebrates the beauty found in life's overlooked details.
From delicate flowers and seaweed to bones and memento mori-inspired designs, Olivia's collections combine contemporary craftsmanship with storytelling. Every piece is handmade in Adelaide and produced in small batches or as one-of-a-kind works, offering jewellery as unique as the person wearing it.
Adelaide jewellery artist Olivia Dryden creates handcrafted sterling silver jewellery inspired by nature, memory and curiosity. Holding a Bachelor of Visual Arts and Design and a Helpmann Academy Fellowship, her practice combines contemporary jewellery making with taxidermy, botanical casting and Memento Mori traditions. Working from her Adelaide studio, Olivia transforms real flowers, shells, bones and natural specimens into one-of-a-kind and limited-edition wearable artworks designed to celebrate the beauty of the natural world.
Meet olivia dryden
Explore Botanical, Oceanic & Curios Jewellery Collections
The Large Geraldton Wax Hook Earrings are handcrafted sterling silver earrings made in Adelaide, South Australia by Olivia Dryden. They belongs to the Botanical Collection, a series of nature inspired jewellery created from real flowers, plants and organic forms.
The original Geraldton Wax flower was selected from my garden and cast to preserve its natural texture. The result is a piece that feels intimate and quietly unusual: a wearable keepsake shaped by nature, memory and the handmade process.
Materials: Sterling silver.
Process: Each piece is handmade in small quantities using traditional silversmithing and casting techniques. Natural variation is part of the process, so small differences in texture, shape and character should be expected.
Dimensions: each flower approx. 2cm x 2cm
Explore more: View the Botanical Collection or browse more earrings.
FAQ
Q1: Will each botanical piece look exactly the same?
A: No. Because the work begins with natural specimens and is handmade in small quantities, each piece may have slight variations in form and surface detail.
Q2: How do I clean the earrings?
A: Due to the intricate, hard-to-reach details in this piece, a silver dip may be used occasionally to clean the sterling silver more evenly than a polishing cloth. Always follow the silver dip instructions carefully and rinse thoroughly.
Q3: Is the Large Geraldton Wax Hook Earrings suitable as a gift?
A: Yes. Each piece is packaged in Olivia Dryden Jewellery branded velvet bag and is suited to collectors who appreciate handmade jewellery with story, detail and meaning.
The Finch Skull & Chain Necklace is a handcrafted sterling silver necklace made in Adelaide, South Australia by Olivia Dryden. It belongs to the Curios Collection, where natural history, memento mori symbolism and careful craftsmanship meet.
The design began with a real finch skull, chosen for its small scale, delicate structure and quiet sculptural presence. Through the moulding and casting process, the skull has been recreated in sterling silver, transforming the original specimen into a lasting wearable object.
Worn on a sterling silver chain, the piece feels refined, intimate and slightly gothic. It connects to my ongoing interest in natural history, ethical specimen work, memory and preservation, while remaining simple enough for everyday wear.
Materials: Sterling silver
Process: Each necklace is handmade in small quantities using traditional silversmithing and casting techniques. The original finch skull was carefully moulded before being cast in sterling silver. Slight differences in texture, shape and finish should be expected as part of the handmade process.
Dimensions: Necklace length: 45 cm. Finch skull: 3 cm x 1.5 cm.
Explore more: View the Curios Collection or browse more necklaces.
FAQ
Q3: How do I clean the Finch Skull & Chain Necklace with Drop Earrings?
A: Avoid perfumes, lotions and harsh chemicals, and gently polish the sterling silver with a soft jewellery cloth. Because the earrings include a freshwater pearl or onyx drop, do not place the drop in silver dip. A silver dip may be used occasionally on the silver components only, following the product instructions carefully before rinsing and drying completely.
Q2: Are the animal specimens ethically sourced?
A: Yes. Animal specimens used in Olivia Dryden Jewellery are sourced from animals that have passed from unpreventable causes, and each piece is created with respect for the original specimen.
Q3: Is the Finch Skull & Chain Necklace suitable as a gift?
A: Yes. Each piece is packaged in an Olivia Dryden Jewellery branded velvet pouch and is suited to collectors who appreciate handmade jewellery with story, natural detail and quiet gothic symbolism.
The Small Seahorse & Pearl Earrings are handmade in Adelaide, South Australia.
The original seahorse was found washed up on a South Australian beach. It was moulded and cast into sterling silver to preserve all the fine details. Freshwater pearls hang below.
Due to the nature of freshwater pearls each one varies slightly. Picture is an example only.
Dimensions: 4.5cm x 1.2cm, Pearl 12mm x 0.8cm
Each Jewellery piece comes packaged in an Olivia Dryden branded jewellery box or velvet bag.
*All animals used in my work have passed from unpreventable deaths.
Stockists & Galleries
Prefer to shop in person? A selection of Olivia Dryden Jewellery can be found at galleries and boutiques across Australia. Discover handcrafted sterling silver jewellery, freshwater pearls and one-of-a-kind designs at the following stockists.
• TAArt Images Gallery, Norwood SA
• T'Arts Collective, Adelaide SA
• Naomi Schwartz Jewellery Design, Glenelg SA
• Kin Gallery, Canberra ACT
As Seen In
Olivia Dryden's work has been featured in exhibitions, publications and industry programs across Australia. From receiving a Helpmann Academy Fellowship to exhibiting at the Oddities & Curiosities Expo and being featured in SA Life Magazine, her jewellery practice continues to attract collectors drawn to handcrafted jewellery inspired by nature, memory and curiosity.
• SA Life Magazine
• Helpmann Academy Fellowship
• RSASA
• Oddities & Curiosities Expo Australia
Best Sellers
The Bee Pendant is a handcrafted sterling silver necklace made in Adelaide, South Australia by Olivia Dryden. It belongs to the Curios Collection, where natural history, curiosity cabinets and careful craftsmanship meet.
The design began with an original bee specimen, which was carefully moulded so its small form, wings and surface detail could be preserved. That mould was then used to cast the bee in sterling silver, creating a sculptural keepsake connected to pollination, fragility and the quiet complexity of the natural world.
Worn as a pendant, the bee sits close to the body as a subtle symbol of nature, preservation and quiet resilience.
Materials: Sterling silver
Process: Each pendant is handmade in small quantities using traditional silversmithing and casting techniques. Slight differences in texture, shape and finish should be expected as part of the handmade process.
Dimensions: Pendant: 1.8 cm x 2.8 cm. 45cm length chain.
Explore more: View the Curios Collection or browse more necklaces.
FAQ
Q1: Are the animal specimens ethically sourced?
A: Yes. Animal specimens used in Olivia Dryden Jewellery are sourced from animals that have passed from unpreventable causes, and each piece is made with respect for the original specimen.
Q2: How do I clean the Bee Pendant?
A: Avoid perfumes, lotions and harsh chemicals, and gently polish the sterling silver with a soft jewellery cloth. Because the bee form has small, hard-to-reach details, a silver dip may be used occasionally if needed. Always follow the silver dip instructions carefully, rinse thoroughly and dry completely.
Q3: Is the Bee Pendant suitable as a gift?
A: Yes. Each piece is packaged in an Olivia Dryden Jewellery branded velvet pouch and is suited to collectors, nature lovers and those who appreciate handmade jewellery with story, detail and meaning.
The Leafy Seadragon Pendant is handmade in Adelaide, South Australia. The original Leafy Seadragon was moulded and cast into sterling silver to preserve the fine details. The pendant hangs off a 45cm sterling silver chain.
Dimensions: 4.2cm x 2.7cm, 45cm chain
Each Jewellery piece comes packaged in an Olivia Dryden branded jewellery box or velvet bag.
The Human Tooth Earrings are handcrafted sterling silver earrings made in Adelaide, South Australia by Olivia Dryden. They belong to the Curios Collection, where natural history, memento mori symbolism and careful craftsmanship meet.
The design began with a real human tooth, chosen for its intimate scale, recognisable form and quiet connection to the body. Through the moulding and casting process, the tooth has been recreated in sterling silver, transforming the original specimen into a lasting wearable object.
Worn as earrings, the tooth forms feel personal, symbolic and slightly unsettling in the best way. They sit within the memento mori tradition as a reminder of the body, memory and the strange beauty found in human remains and natural forms.
Materials: Sterling silver
Process: Each pair is handmade in small quantities using traditional silversmithing and casting techniques. The original human tooth was carefully moulded before being cast in sterling silver. Slight differences in texture, shape and finish should be expected as part of the handmade process.
Dimensions:Earring length: 3 cm. Tooth width: 1 cm.
Explore more: View the Curios Collection or browse more earrings.
FAQ
Q1: Are the Human Tooth Earrings made from real teeth?
A: The finished earrings are made from sterling silver, not human teeth. The design began with a real human tooth, which was carefully moulded so its recognisable form and surface detail could be preserved before being cast in sterling silver.
Q2: What does tooth jewellery symbolise?
A: Tooth jewellery often connects to the body, memory, mortality and transformation. Within the Curios Collection, the tooth form sits within a memento mori tradition, reflecting on the fragile and fascinating relationship between beauty, identity and impermanence.
Q3: How do I clean the Human Tooth Earrings?
A: Avoid perfumes, lotions and harsh chemicals, and gently polish the sterling silver with a soft jewellery cloth. Because the tooth forms have small sculptural details, a silver dip may be used occasionally if needed. Always follow the silver dip instructions carefully, rinse thoroughly and dry completely.
