The Memento Mori Cross & Grey Pearl Short 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 pendant is formed from bird bone shapes arranged into a small cross, creating a piece that speaks quietly to remembrance, mortality and the beauty found in natural remains. Cast in sterling silver, the bone forms become a lasting wearable object with a refined, slightly gothic presence.
A grey freshwater pearl sits beneath the cross, adding soft lustre and a muted organic contrast to the sculptural silver form. The result is intimate, symbolic and connected to my ongoing interest in natural history, ethical specimen work, memory and preservation.
Materials: Sterling silver, freshwater pearls, grey freshwater pearl.
Process: Each necklace is handmade in small quantities using traditional silversmithing and casting techniques. Slight differences in texture, finish and pearl character should be expected as part of the handmade process.
Dimensions: Necklace length: 42 cm.
Cross pendant: 4 cm.
Explore more: View the Curios Collection or browse more necklaces.
FAQ
Q1: What does memento mori mean?
A: Memento mori is a Latin phrase meaning “remember that you must die”. In jewellery, it often refers to symbolic pieces that reflect on mortality, memory and the fleeting nature of life.
Q2: Is the Memento Mori Cross & Grey Pearl Short Necklace made from real bone?
A: The finished necklace is made from sterling silver, not bone. The design began with real bird bones, which were carefully moulded so their delicate natural structure and surface detail could be preserved. Wax forms were then created from those moulds and arranged into the cross shape before being cast in sterling silver. This process allows the necklace to honour the original bone forms while creating a durable, wearable piece of jewellery.
Q3: Will the grey freshwater pearl look exactly the same as the photo?
A: No. Freshwater pearls are natural materials, so each pearl may vary slightly in shape, tone, surface and lustre. These subtle differences are part of the character of the piece.
The Memento Mori Cross & Grey Pearl Short 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 pendant is formed from bird bone shapes arranged into a small cross, creating a piece that speaks quietly to remembrance, mortality and the beauty found in natural remains. Cast in sterling silver, the bone forms become a lasting wearable object with a refined, slightly gothic presence.
A grey freshwater pearl sits beneath the cross, adding soft lustre and a muted organic contrast to the sculptural silver form. The result is intimate, symbolic and connected to my ongoing interest in natural history, ethical specimen work, memory and preservation.
Materials: Sterling silver, freshwater pearls, grey freshwater pearl.
Process: Each necklace is handmade in small quantities using traditional silversmithing and casting techniques. Slight differences in texture, finish and pearl character should be expected as part of the handmade process.
Dimensions: Necklace length: 42 cm.
Cross pendant: 4 cm.
Explore more: View the Curios Collection or browse more necklaces.
FAQ
Q1: What does memento mori mean?
A: Memento mori is a Latin phrase meaning “remember that you must die”. In jewellery, it often refers to symbolic pieces that reflect on mortality, memory and the fleeting nature of life.
Q2: Is the Memento Mori Cross & Grey Pearl Short Necklace made from real bone?
A: The finished necklace is made from sterling silver, not bone. The design began with real bird bones, which were carefully moulded so their delicate natural structure and surface detail could be preserved. Wax forms were then created from those moulds and arranged into the cross shape before being cast in sterling silver. This process allows the necklace to honour the original bone forms while creating a durable, wearable piece of jewellery.
Q3: Will the grey freshwater pearl look exactly the same as the photo?
A: No. Freshwater pearls are natural materials, so each pearl may vary slightly in shape, tone, surface and lustre. These subtle differences are part of the character of the piece.
