Mellifera - Necklace - Made to Order

Apis mellifera is the scientific name of the western honeybee, they hold a special place in my heart for several reasons and I wanted to honor them in a very special piece.

Chronologically speaking, bees were present in several Ancient Greek coins and I wanted to bring a bee that was reminiscent of how they were represented.

I’ve written about katabasis and it has inspired much of my work so it’s no surprise that I also related the Mellifera pendant to it; a bee coin, a penny for the ferrymen…

For me the pendant is a coin for self knowledge, to explore the tumultuous deep waters in your own underworld.

In medieval Europe bee keeping was a necessity as honey was one of the only ways to sweeten foods and beverages, and the wax was used for candles; not only to light the rooms but also to religious events, making seals etc.

The beekeepers used masks woven from twigs to probably protect themselves from being stung in the face. I wanted to represent their masks in the design too, so you can see in the pendant a little weaved pattern in a circle.

And last but not least, telling the bees; it’s a european tradition in which the bees are informed of deaths (and in some regions, weddings too).

If the bees were not told about such events it was believed a catastrophe would occur, the bees would leave the hive or the person that inherited the hive would suffer from serious issues.

Ultimately bees are amazing, they were a huge part of our daily life for centuries and we should treasure them and what they do.

This amulet is made of solid 925 sterling silver measures around 1.18”.

The pendant weights around 8.25 gm.

Comes with a chain necklace, you can choose the size you want.

Made to order, turnaround from 4 to 8 weeks.

All the sterling silver items I create are tested, hallmarked and certified at the assay offices of Imprensa Nacional da Casa da Moeda

Please keep in mind due to the handmade nature of my pieces the one you get might be slightly different and with its own personality, use it mindfully to avoid snagging, bending or breaking.

To store and clean your new piece, I will provide you not only with a jewelry box but also a polishing wipe.

Take a look at my care instructions and shipping policies before buying :)