Material & Craft
The Material
Ruby is the red variety of corundum, an aluminium oxide mineral with a Mohs hardness of 9. Its color can range from deep red to pink and magenta, depending principally on its chromium content and other characteristics of the material. This specimen displays a concentrated magenta-red appearance with natural internal variation visible beneath the polished surface. Although ruby is highly resistant to scratching, it can still chip or fracture under a forceful impact.
The Sculpture
The ruby has been carved into a miniature human skull with recessed eye sockets, a defined nasal cavity, cheek contours, and individual divisions along the teeth. These features are compressed into a form measuring approximately 0.76 inches across its longest stated dimension. The polished surface allows light to move across the small anatomical details and natural internal characteristics. A gold-tone metal bail is fitted above the cranium for suspension from a compatible chain or cord.
Form & Meaning
Skull jewelry belongs to the long artistic tradition of memento mori: objects worn or displayed as reminders of mortality and the limited nature of time. At pendant scale, the skull becomes a private object carried close to the body rather than a monument intended for distant viewing. The title “The Crimson Heart” draws on the ruby’s red color and the pendant’s position when worn, framing courage and resilience as personal interpretations rather than promised effects of the material.