The Long Rat Spine & Drop Studs 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 is based on the delicate structure of a rat spine, preserving the fine vertebral forms in sterling silver. Rather than disguising the origin of the specimen, these earrings honour its natural architecture, transforming something often overlooked into a quiet, sculptural object of remembrance.
These earrings are available with your choice of freshwater pearl or onyx drop. Freshwater pearls add a soft organic lustre, while onyx brings a darker, more gothic contrast to the silver bone form.
The result is intimate, unusual and deeply connected to my ongoing interest in natural history, ethical specimen work, memory and preservation.
Materials: Sterling silver, with your choice of freshwater pearl or onyx drop.
Process: Each pair is handmade in small quantities using traditional silversmithing and casting techniques. The original rat spine form was carefully moulded so its small anatomical details could be preserved, then cast in sterling silver to create a lasting metal version of the natural specimen. Natural variation is part of the handmade process, so slight differences in texture, shape and pearl or gemstone character should be expected.
Dimensions:
5.8 cm total length
Bone form: 3.5 cm
Gemstone or pearl drop: 0.8 cm
Explore more: View the Curios Collection or browse more earrings.
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 my earrings?
A: Avoid perfumes, lotions and harsh chemicals. 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, rinse thoroughly, dry completely, and avoid dipping pearls, gemstones or oxidised details.
Q3: Is the Long Rat Spine & Drop Stud Earrings 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, detail and meaning.
The Long Rat Spine & Drop Studs 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 is based on the delicate structure of a rat spine, preserving the fine vertebral forms in sterling silver. Rather than disguising the origin of the specimen, these earrings honour its natural architecture, transforming something often overlooked into a quiet, sculptural object of remembrance.
These earrings are available with your choice of freshwater pearl or onyx drop. Freshwater pearls add a soft organic lustre, while onyx brings a darker, more gothic contrast to the silver bone form.
The result is intimate, unusual and deeply connected to my ongoing interest in natural history, ethical specimen work, memory and preservation.
Materials: Sterling silver, with your choice of freshwater pearl or onyx drop.
Process: Each pair is handmade in small quantities using traditional silversmithing and casting techniques. The original rat spine form was carefully moulded so its small anatomical details could be preserved, then cast in sterling silver to create a lasting metal version of the natural specimen. Natural variation is part of the handmade process, so slight differences in texture, shape and pearl or gemstone character should be expected.
Dimensions:
5.8 cm total length
Bone form: 3.5 cm
Gemstone or pearl drop: 0.8 cm
Explore more: View the Curios Collection or browse more earrings.
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 my earrings?
A: Avoid perfumes, lotions and harsh chemicals. 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, rinse thoroughly, dry completely, and avoid dipping pearls, gemstones or oxidised details.
Q3: Is the Long Rat Spine & Drop Stud Earrings 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, detail and meaning.
