Memento Mori Jewelry
2010s Indian Victorian Band Rings
Gold Plate, Brass, Enamel
2010s Indian Victorian Signet Rings
Silver
2010s American Contemporary Signet Rings
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Vermeil, Silver
2010s Indian Victorian Band Rings
14k Gold, Gold Plate, Enamel
2010s Indian Victorian Signet Rings
White Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
Antique Early 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Fashion Rings
Agate, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Signet Rings
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Vermeil
2010s American Victorian Signet Rings
Black Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Victorian Signet Rings
Ruby, Bronze
2010s Indian Victorian Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, B...
Antique Early 19th Century Dutch Georgian Pocket Watches
14k Gold
2010s American Artist Stud Earrings
Diamond, Garnet, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
2010s Indian Victorian Bangles
Diamond, Gold Plate, Brass, Enamel
Antique 18th Century Solitaire Rings
21st Century and Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Black Spinel, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Beaded Bracelets
Onyx, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Beaded Bracelets
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Beaded Bracelets
Sterling Silver
Antique Mid-19th Century Unknown Gothic Revival Fashion Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Victorian Signet Rings
Emerald, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Vermeil
20th Century Edwardian Brooches
Bronze
2010s American Victorian Signet Rings
Emerald, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Vermeil
2010s American Contemporary Signet Rings
10k Gold, Yellow Gold, Vermeil
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Tennis Bracelets
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Titanium
Antique 17th Century Medieval Band Rings
Yellow Gold
2010s Indian Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Black Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Enamel
2010s Indian Contemporary Chain Necklaces
14k Gold, Gold Plate, Enamel
2010s Indian Victorian Band Rings
14k Gold, Gold Plate, Enamel
2010s Indian Victorian Band Rings
14k Gold, Gold Plate, Enamel
2010s French Victorian Chain Necklaces
14k Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
2010s Indian Contemporary Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, Black Diamond, Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Enamel
2010s Indian Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Black Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver, Enamel
2010s French Victorian Chain Necklaces
14k Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
2010s Indian Contemporary Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, Black Diamond, Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass, Enam...
2010s Indian Victorian Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass
2010s Indian Contemporary Bangles
Diamond, Black Diamond, White Diamond, Enamel, Brass, Gold Plate, 14k Gold
2010s Indian Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Gold Plate, Enamel, 14k Gold
2010s Indian Victorian Bangles
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Enamel
2010s Indian Victorian Chain Necklaces
Black Diamond, Moonstone, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
2010s Indian Contemporary Hoop Earrings
White Diamond, Black Diamond, Silver, Enamel, 14k Gold, Gold Plate
2010s Indian Victorian Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass, Silver
2010s Indian Victorian Band Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver, Sterling Silver, E...
2010s Indian Victorian Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass
2010s Indian Victorian Modern Bracelets
Tanzanite, Yellow Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Whit...
2010s Indian Contemporary Bangles
White Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass
2010s Indian Victorian Chain Necklaces
Black Diamond, Moonstone, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
2010s Indian Victorian Bangles
Ruby, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Enamel
2010s Indian Victorian Fashion Rings
Diamond, Black Diamond, Gold Plate, Enamel, 14k Gold, Silver
2010s Indian Victorian Chain Necklaces
Ruby, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Enamel
2010s Indian Victorian Chain Necklaces
Black Diamond, Moonstone, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Antique Early 19th Century English Georgian Brooches
Silver
Antique 17th Century British Georgian More Jewelry
Coral
21st Century and Contemporary British Georgian Fashion Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
Antique 17th Century British Georgian More Rings
18k Gold
English More Rings
Antique 1730s Georgian Band Rings
Crystal, 18k Gold, Silver
Antique Mid-18th Century British More Rings
Yellow Gold
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About Memento Mori and Mourning Jewelry
Memento mori and mourning jewelry are often lumped together, but they’re actually quite different, if not in style, then in purpose. While memento mori pieces serve as reminders of death in general, each item of mourning jewelry was designed or customized as a remembrance of a specific person.
“Remember that you must die.” Translated from Latin, this is the meaning of memento mori, a message that spurred a style of jewelry. Dating as far back at the 16th century, memento mori jewelry is designed to remind wearers of their mortality, with designs that incorporate symbols of death like skulls and crossbones, coffins and snakes. Given the relatively short life expectancies for people at that time, did people need a reminder that they were going to die (and probably sooner than later)?
“Memento mori jewelry was rooted in deeply held Christian belief and the concept of a judgement day,” says Lindsay Salmon, part of the duo behind jewelry line Erica Weiner, which offers both original designs and antique pieces. “Wearing a piece of this jewelry is a constant physical and visual reminder that one day you will die, and when you do, you will be held to account for your sins. In other words, lead a virtuous life or spend an eternity damned to the fires of hell." She also says the jewelry tends to fascinate people, and it can be their entry point into the world of antique jewelry and collecting.
Salmon, a collector of mourning jewelry, says she wears her acquisitions often, which include an 18th-century full-body skeleton ring and a Victorian wide gold ‘In Memory Of’ band with a woman’s wedding band encased in the interior. (The Grand period of Victorian jewelry is most often associated with mourning jewelry.) “I have a beautiful Georgian mourning ring with lovely enamel work and amethysts that had had its original dedication removed, she says. “I bought the ring despite its missing information, and later had it engraved for my father.”
Find a range of antique and vintage memento mori jewelry on 1stDibs.
- What is a memento mori ring?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021Memento mori ring is a ring that is an artistic reminder of the inevitability of death. ‘Memento mori’ is a Latin term that means “remember you must die.” These rings typically either feature a skull, crossbones or skeletons to prompt people to remember the shortness of life. Shop a range of memento mori rings on 1stDibs.
- What does memento mori mean?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021Memento mori means “remember that you must die” in Latin. A memento mori is an object which serves as either a warning or reminder of death. An example of a memento mori is a skull.