The Widow's Key — Skeleton Key & Pearl Assemblage Necklace

She kept it on her person always. Long after the house was sold and the rooms were emptied. Long after there was nothing left to unlock. The key was hers. It had always been hers. She was not ready to let it go.

Some women wear their grief on their sleeve. She wore hers at her throat.

So, I built her a necklace worthy of it.

The key is heavy, dark and iron-patinated. The kind that once opened something that mattered. It hangs from a vintage triple-strand glass pearl necklace, ivory and luminous. Each of the three strands holds a large faceted black bead at its center, set between silver rhinestone rondelles. Black lace secures the key to the pearls, falling soft on either side, a mourning ribbon for a woman who never quite finished mourning, and never quite wanted to.

Pearls for what she had. Black for what she lost. The key for what she kept.

From My Nostalgic Soul to yours. — Gwendalynn Grey

Details

• Skeleton key pendant, iron/gunmetal patina
• Triple-strand vintage ivory glass bead necklace
• Large faceted black beads at center
• Silver rhinestone rondelles
• Black lace tied at key bow
• One of a kind — no two will ever be alike