Memento mori means “remember that you must die”, which is a heavier idea than most candles carry. This one is cast from an 18th century wooden skull, hand-carved by French monastic artisans and kept in a monastery, where it reminded its keepers of the veil between life and the hereafter. The monks sculpted it to say that all things pass: beauty, power, sorrow, self.
The candle is a faithful reproduction of the carving, down to the fine bone contours, the age-worn fissures and the serene grimace. It is unscented, which suits it. Lit, it burns slowly and throws long shadows.
It is designed to drip, so give it a heat-resistant surface and a little care: trim the wick before each burn and keep burns under four hours. Limited edition, 15cm x 13cm.