Death's Head Mourning Ring

The death's head mourning ring is based on a design that grew to popularity in the 16th or 17th century. It was popular throughout the 18th century and always featured a carved skull known as a "death's head" or even "pumpkin head" as the focal point. They were usually made as mourning rings to commemorate the life (and death!) of a loved one. Many styles existed with various flourishes and details. Our design features a "death's head" skull mated with rococo style scrollwork sometimes found on mourning rings of the era. It can serve as a piece of modern day memento mori or can be customized with engraving to commemorate a loved one in your life. Each hand carved ring is cast in sterling silver and finished by hand. Slight variations will naturally occur.

Memento mori (translated simply as "remember death") as well as mourning jewelry were most popular in the 17th through 19th centuries to remind us of the natural progression of life. It was meant to keep the idea of death as something not to fear; a reminder to live life to the fullest in order to stay happy until the very end, and sometimes a commemoration of a life that has already passed.