Jewelry Created In Loving Memory
Recently, I heard about jewelry created for mourning and commemoration of recently deceased.
This is not as macbre as it sounds. Its a company called Three-Fourths of an Ounce, named for the scientific experiments performed at the turn of the last century designed to determine the “weight of the soul,” provides products to sincerely and gracefully support those who have lost someone.
By merging traditional rituals with the modern rhythms of life and loss, Three-Fourths of an Ounce creates a much needed contemporary take on mourning. Three-Fourths of an Ounce has respectfully searched various world cultures and religions to create nine secular objects that give ready-made assistance to people looking for a way to support a friend or colleague who has lost a loved one. These sophisticated gifts and the traditions they represent help guide dialogue around grief that can be difficult and painful. Featuring exclusive collaborations with noted designers such as Fredericks and Mae, Gabriella Kiss, Ted Muehling, and Alison Riley, each piece is as beautiful as it is meaningful.
· Weight of the Soul ($200): In a series of experiments conducted in Massachusetts 110 years ago, physician Dr. Duncan Macdougall sought to prove the existence of the soul through scientific inquiry. According to his measurements, the body loses three-fourths of an ounce (twenty-one grams) coincident with death, and as such he determined this to be the weight of a soul. This stunningly simple object was designed by renowned jeweler and artist Ted Muehling and can be set on a desk or dresser, used as a worry stone, or carried as an ever-present companion. Each stone is unique in its natural variations and weighs precisely three-fourths of an ounce.
· Mourning Pendant ($1,050): Renowned jewelry designer Gabriella Kiss has created a stunningly simple necklace to serve as a beautiful and subtle memorial to someone who has died and as a reminder of our own mortality. Produced in limited editions of three per style, each black jade pendant is hand carved in Germany into a traditional symbol of mourning—Acanthus Leaves, the Victorian symbol of long life; a Fig, the Victorian symbol of immortality; or an Oak Tree, a symbol of strength and the tree of life. Each small jade piece is set in 18 carat gold on a delicate 18 carat gold chain.
WHERE TO FIND IT: http://www.3-4oz.com/
ABOUT THREE FOURTHS OF AN OUNCE: Three-Fourths of an Ounce helps people to find comfort for themselves and support those they love during times of mourning. Through modern, design-focused products Three-Fourths of an Ounce creates a secular language about mourning, grieving, remembrance, and commemoration.