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Memento Mori

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Brutalist Chamber Ring in 18 Karat Yellow and White Gold, Citrine and Diamonds
By William Llewellyn Griffiths
Located in Melbourne, Vic
have also been used throughout history to carry perfume or as Memento Mori rings to stow locks of hair
Category

2010s Australian Contemporary Fashion Rings

Materials

Citrine, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Small Gold Tulip Ring with Pink Sapphires Amethyst Opals Tsavorite and Crystal
By Bibi van der Velden
Located in Amsterdam, NL
nature’s inevitable decay. The Memento Mori collection is inspired by the grotesque and the beautiful in
Category

2010s Dutch Contemporary Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Rock Crystal, Tsavorite, Amethyst, Opal, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gol...

Figure: Female Pedlar, Possibly Peg Woffington, Bow Porcelain, circa 1758
By Bow Porcelain
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
figures, and this figure was possibly a memento mori for sale at the pleasure gardens.
Category

Antique Late 18th Century English Neoclassical Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

18 Karat White and Yellow Gold Parrot Tulip in White Diamond Cocktail Ring
By Bibi van der Velden
Located in Amsterdam, NL
stem has been cut. From whichever angle it’s seen, this ring delights. The Memento Mori collection is
Category

2010s Dutch Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Moonstone, Oriental Pearl, Rock Crystal, Tsavorite, 18k Gold, W...

Very Scarce, Grand Tour, Model of the Siegessaule Monument, Berlin, circa 1873
Located in Lafayette, CA
-quickly changes into another person’s memento mori. This model is in remarkably original condition.    
Category

Antique 1870s German Grand Tour Architectural Models

Materials

Zinc

Caesura
By Ellen Carey
Located in New York, NY
results from this change. As photographic objects they serve as symbols of their former selves, a “memento
Category

2010s Abstract Photography

Materials

Photogram

Self Portrait as Luminous Body, Oil on Canvas Painting by Julie Heffernan, 2004
By Julie Heffernan
Located in Orange, CA
, operatic portraits into a contemporary vanitas or memento mori, acting as both a stylized fantasy and a
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Self Portrait as Decoy, Oil on Canvas Painting by Julie Heffernan, 2005-2006
By Julie Heffernan
Located in Orange, CA
, operatic portraits into a contemporary vanitas or memento mori, acting as both a stylized fantasy and a
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Self Portrait as Luminous Body, Oil on Canvas Painting by Julie Heffernan, 2004
By Julie Heffernan
Located in Orange, CA
, operatic portraits into a contemporary vanitas or memento mori, acting as both a stylized fantasy and a
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Self Portrait as Decoy, Oil on Canvas Painting by Julie Heffernan, 2005-2006
By Julie Heffernan
Located in Orange, CA
, operatic portraits into a contemporary vanitas or memento mori, acting as both a stylized fantasy and a
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

The Last Moment of the City of Pompeii
By Alexander Archipenko
Located in München, DE
- and a haunting memento mori.
Category

1920s Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Tulip and Slug Ear Cuff with Pink and Blue Sapphires Amethyst Opals Tsavorite
By Bibi van der Velden
Located in Amsterdam, NL
chain, too. The Memento Mori collection is inspired by the grotesque and the beautiful in the still
Category

2010s Dutch Contemporary More Earrings

Materials

Amethyst, Diamond, Opal, Rock Crystal, Pink Sapphire, Tsavorite, Moonsto...

Single 18 Karat Rose Gold Aunt Stud Earring with Fancy Cut Pink Sapphires
By Bibi van der Velden
Located in Amsterdam, NL
, baguette cut tsavorite on the upper part of its body and a kite-shaped tsavorite below. The Memento Mori
Category

2010s Dutch Contemporary Stud Earrings

Materials

White Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Tsavorite, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold...

Guéridon fleuri
By VICTOR FONTAINE
Located in London, GB
guéridon) is littered with fallen flowerheads – however, this still life is not a memento mori, but a
Category

19th Century Still-life Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Cauliflower
By Stephen Rose
Located in London, GB
transience, one leaf trailing like a broken wing, beginning to darken and wilt; a pure, creamy memento mori
Materials

Oil, Canvas

Lobster frigidor
By Stephen Rose
Located in London, GB
-peeled lemon; Rose’s is alive, but quiescent and helpless. This work nudges towards a memento mori, and
Materials

Oil, Canvas

Antique Double Sided Rosary Bead with Head of Christ and Skull Carved in Bone
Located in Chicago, IL
.” The imagery and objects that can be classed as memento mori (Latin: “remember that you must die
Category

Antique 16th Century German Figurines and Sculptures

Ross Bleckner, Happiness For Instance I, 17-color screenprint, 1997; pink floral
By Ross Bleckner
Located in Houston, TX
artist in New York during the AIDS crisis in the 1980s, Bleckner’s paintings, like memento mori, often
Category

1990s Contemporary Abstract Prints

Materials

Screen

After Severin Roesen No. 0305 - Still life, flower bouquet blue white vase
By Claire Rosen
Located in Houston, TX
. According to the artist: "Memento mori, a Latin expression, is a reminder of death's inevitability, a
Category

2010s Contemporary Still-life Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Rattlesnake and Tulips - Dark golden yellow tulip bouquet w/ snake moths
By Claire Rosen
Located in Houston, TX
artist: "Memento mori, a Latin expression, is a reminder of death's inevitability, a reminder that is at
Category

2010s Contemporary Still-life Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Floral Still Life No. 1114 - Flower bouquet in gilded vase with plums crab
By Claire Rosen
Located in Houston, TX
artist: "Memento mori, a Latin expression, is a reminder of death's inevitability, a reminder that is at
Category

2010s Contemporary Still-life Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Table Still Life No. 1015 - Feast of pears, lemons, grapes, cherries cheese
By Claire Rosen
Located in Houston, TX
artist: "Memento mori, a Latin expression, is a reminder of death's inevitability, a reminder that is at
Category

2010s Contemporary Still-life Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Pink Transfer-ware Felix No. 3387 - Surreal tea still life w/ goat tarantula
By Claire Rosen
Located in Houston, TX
refers to unframed print. Please contact the gallery to discuss. According to the artist: "Memento mori
Category

2010s Contemporary Still-life Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Self Portrait by HIV Aids Activist Barton Benes
By Barton Lidice Benes
Located in New York, NY
. Among his best known works — though it was never exhibited publicly — was his collection of memento mori
Category

1960s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Watercolor, Pen

Memento Mori
Located in Kent, Dover
'Memento Mori - Latin: "Remember that you will die". A part skeleton, comprising skull, hand, foot
Category

Antique 19th Century Sculptures

Memento Mori Skull, Italy 1880
Located in Milan, IT
Painted plaster memento mori skull over a painted wooden base.? Italy 1880 ca.
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Italian Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Plaster, Wood

An 18th Century Memento Mori
Located in Kent, Dover
A Human skull or 'Memento Mori'. This has had the skull cap removed and refitted. There is also a
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects

17th Century Italian Memento Mori Skull
Located in Chicago, IL
A macabre 17th century Italian Memento Mori carved wood and painted skull mounted on its original
Category

Antique 17th Century Italian Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Important and Rare Italian Memento Mori
Located in Milan, IT
An important and rare Italian Wunderkammer Memento Mori sculpture, depicting a wooden skull.
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Memento Mori American 19th Century
Located in Hudson, NY
Rare American folk-art Memento Mori of Hiram Aluro Hill, died age 11, 1845. Good penmanship
Category

Antique Early 19th Century American Folk Art Drawings

Materials

Wood, Paper

Natural Coral Carved Memento Mori Skull
Located in Houston, TX
A beautifully hand-carved natural coral Memento Mori human skull adorned with a pyrite halo crown.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Coral, Pyrite

Portuguese Memento Mori Painted Skull Cabinet
Located in North Miami, FL
This is a truly unique Memento Mori cabinet or chest found in Portugal. Three ample drawers and
Category

20th Century Portuguese Folk Art Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Italian Memento Mori skull - 17th century
Located in Bruxelles, BE
Italian Memento Mori skull Marble North of Italy, 17th century H 9 x L 7 x P 14 cm At the turn
Category

Antique 17th Century Italian Renaissance Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Marble

Memento Mori Skull on Bible
Located in Palm Beach, FL
skull sits atop a bible and adjacent to a rosary. What sets this memento mori apart is its rather
Category

Early 1900s Art Nouveau More Art

Materials

Porcelain, Glaze

Codognato Enamel Gold Skull Memento Mori Ring
By Attilio Codognato
Located in Firenze, IT
Renaissance style Memento Mori skull ring made with champleve multicolored enamels. With diamond
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Fashion Rings

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel

19th century carved pine memento mori
Located in London, GB
19th century carved pine memento mori Dimensions: H 6.5” x W 4” x D 4” Weight: 500 grms Date
Category

Antique 1850s Italian Early Victorian Religious Items

Materials

Pine

Prisoner of War Memento Mori
Located in London, GB
Prisoner of War Memento Mori This unusual object is made from cow bone. Likely to have been
Category

Antique 1850s British Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Bone

Hamlett Skull on Stand – Memento Mori and Vanitas
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
by the concept of Memento Mori, it symbolizes the ephemeral nature of life, vanity, and the ethics of
Category

Antique 17th Century English Gothic Taxidermy

Materials

Resin, Wood

Memento Mori Carved and Polychrome Painted Wood 1780
Located in Hastings, GB
A beautifully crafted pine 18th century Memento Mori depicting a Skull set upon a book, probably
Category

Antique Late 18th Century German Baroque Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Pine

18th Century Italian Silver Gilt Small Memento Mori Mirror
Located in San Francisco, CA
Late 17th or early 18th century Italian Memento Mori silver gilt frame. This would have originally
Category

Antique Early 18th Century Italian Rococo Wall Mirrors

Materials

Mirror, Wood

Vintage "Memento Mori" Long-Horn Steer Skull
Located in Astoria, NY
the cow's skull has come to serve as both a "memento mori", or reminder of the temporary state of life
Category

20th Century American Taxidermy

Materials

Bone, Horn, Rope

18th Century Diamond Silver Gold Memento Mori Ring
Located in New York, NY
An early Memento Mori ring comprised of a rose-cut diamond flanked by a small skull and a serpent
Category

Antique 1760s Georgian Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver

Early 17th Century Memento Mori Ring
Located in Firenze, IT
Memento mori ring-Exceptional antique gold ring with a kitten in the shape of a skull, enamelled
Category

Antique Early 17th Century Dutch Baroque Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

19th century traveling memento mori casket
Located in London, GB
19th century traveling memento mori casket Dimensions: H 20” x W 16” x D 4” (Full opened) Weight
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Victorian Religious Items

Materials

Pine

An important Memento Mori candle holder.
Located in Milan, IT
An important and rare Memento Mori candleholder. The round base with moved profile is carved out of
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Candle Holders

Materials

Metal

Wendy Brandes Ruby Eye Memento Mori Skull Gold Layering Necklace
By Wendy Brandes
Located in New York, NY
long been used in memento mori jewelry. The Latin phrase "Memento Mori" means "remember you are mortal
Category

2010s American Contemporary Chain Necklaces

Materials

Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Memento mori mirror, Belgium 1898.
Located in Milan, IT
Memento Mori mirror. The mirror is circular, with a beveled edge. From the periphery to the center
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Belgian Wall Mirrors

Materials

Bronze, Copper

Pair of Mid Century Sculptural Memento Mori Faux Steer Horns
Located in Astoria, NY
A pair of decorative faux steer horn memento mori sculptures mounted on brass bases. Reduced
Category

20th Century American Animal Sculptures

Materials

Brass, Metal

Mid 19th Century Hand Carved Memento Mori Figure
Located in London, GB
Mid 19th Century Hand Carved Memento Mori Figure An amazing example of a mid 19th Century hand
Category

Antique 1850s Unknown Early Victorian Religious Items

Materials

Wood

Corallium Rubrum Memento Mori Italy 18th Century
Located in Firenze, IT
Height x width x depth: 3.5 x 2 x 3 cm. Weight: 24 g. "Memento Mori" Vanitas represented by a Red
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Silver

Mid Century Cast Metal "Memento Mori" Skull Sculpture
Located in Astoria, NY
mandible. There is a long tradition of the memento mori (latin "Remember Death") used in art to convey
Category

20th Century American Sculptures

Materials

Metal

Limited Edition Geometric Sculptures by Memento-Mori, Paris, France
Located in New York, NY
Limited edition of 12, these 5 mounted geometric sculptures are by Memento-Mori in Paris, France
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Grand Tour Mobiles and Kinetic Scul...

Materials

Metal

Early 19th Century Italian Bronze Memento Mori Funeral Censer
Located in Lowestoft, GB
construction with pierced and pressed brass Memento Mori decoration, also depicted are cherubs often used to
Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Religious Items

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Wendy Brandes Memento Mori Skull and Bones 18K Yellow Gold Drop Earrings
By Wendy Brandes
Located in New York, NY
Skull imagery has long been used in memento mori jewelry. The Latin phrase "Memento Mori" means
Category

2010s American Contemporary Drop Earrings

Materials

18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Rhodium

Early 19th Century Italian Giltwood Skull Crossbones Memento Mori
Located in Lowestoft, GB
An early 19th century Italian gilt wood Memento Mori skull & crossbones. Likely to of been part
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Italian Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Pine

Memento Mori, Oil on Agate, Germany Beginning XVIII Century
Located in Milan, IT
Memento Mori for Wunderkammer, depicting a skull and a tulip, oil paintings on hard stone. A large
Category

Antique Mid-17th Century Italian Natural Specimens

Materials

Agate, Brass

18th C Nicely aged Wooden carved Memento Mori skull.
Located in Leuven , BE
A Memento Mori is an object, often a skull, that serves as a reminder of death and the fleeting
Category

Antique 18th Century French Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Fruitwood

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Memento Mori For Sale on 1stDibs

On 1stDibs, you can find the most appropriate memento mori for your needs in our varied inventory. Each design created in this style — which was crafted with great care and often made from gold, yellow gold and 18k gold — can elevate any look. Find an antique version now, or shop for 140 vintage or 246 modern creation for a more contemporary example of these cherished accessories. Making the right choice when shopping for a memento mori may mean carefully reviewing examples of this item dating from different eras — you can find an early iteration of this piece from the 18th Century and a newer version made as recently as the 21st Century, both of which have proven very popular over the years. For this particular piece, are consistently popular carat weights. A memento mori from J DAUPHIN, Attilio Codognato and William Llewellyn Griffiths — each of whom created a beautiful version of this treasured accessory — is worth considering. A memento mori can make for a versatile accessory, but a selection from our variety of 136 diamond versions can add an especially stylish touch. See these pages for a brilliant cut iteration of this accessory, while there are also emerald cut cut and round cut cut versions available here, too. If you’re browsing our inventory for a memento mori, you’ll find that many are available today for women, but there are still pieces to choose from for unisex and men.

How Much is a Memento Mori?

The price for a memento mori starts at $155 and tops out at $160,000 with these rings, on average, selling for $1,663.
Questions About Memento Mori
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021
    Memento 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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
    Memento 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.