Skull and Crossbones Seal antique

Skull and Crossbones Seal antiqueThe skull and crossbones is one of historys most enduring symbols. Though often associated today with pirates and poison, its origins lie in a far older tradition of memento mori, the Latin phrase meaning remember that you must die. Rather than dwelling on death, the symbol invites us to live more intentionally. For centuries, artists, philosophers, and craftsmen have used the skull as a reminder that time is finite, making beauty, love, and

and success

Part of the Kathryn Hastings Floriography Series

The oak wreath answers with what those moments become over time

the flower appears both in moments of celebration and in times of grief

The colors are Collier blue

There I couch when owls do cry

In this case: Eye

echoing antique medallions and early American metalwork

This seal is a gentle reminder of beauty’s softer forms of strength

they form a talisman for trusting the unseen

and it becomes tempting to dim oneself in anticipation of misunderstanding

rooted and enduring