Caretaker's Codex: Preserving Your Beautiful Remains

Your jewelry, crafted from the delicate remnants of the wild, is a profound piece of art. Like all natural treasures, bone requires mindful care to maintain its integrity, luster, and symbolic power for years to come. Treat it with the respect due to a timeless talisman.

Daily Adornment & Ritual

• Avoid Submersion: Your bone jewellery is naturally cleaned and preserved, but prolonged exposure to moisture is its greatest foe. Always remove your pieces before showering, swimming (especially in chlorinated or salt water), doing dishes, or engaging in strenuous activities that cause heavy sweating.

• The Last Step: Always put your bone jewellery on last—after applying perfume, hairspray, lotions, or makeup. The chemicals and oils in these products can yellow, weaken, or degrade the bone and finishings over time.

• Rest is Required: Never sleep in your bone jewellery. The weight, twisting, and pressure from sleeping can cause the delicate natural materials to snap, crack, or pull apart the settings. Give both yourself and your talisman a proper rest.

• Handle with Reverence: Bone, though strong, can be brittle. Avoid dropping your pieces onto hard surfaces or subjecting them to strong impacts, which can cause breaks or cracks.

Cleaning & Maintenance

• Gentle Cleaning Only: To clean your bone piece, use a soft, dry cloth (like a microfiber lens cloth) to gently wipe away any surface dust or oils.

• Avoid All Chemicals: Never use harsh chemicals, cleaning solutions (even "natural" ones), or ultrasonic cleaners. These will dissolve the protective seal and irreversibly damage the bone structure.

• Polish the Findings: For the metal components (chains, ear hooks, caps), you may use a designated jewellery polishing cloth, being careful not to rub the bone itself.

Storage & Sanctuary

• Dry and Dark: Store your bone jewellery in a dry, temperature-stable environment, away from direct sunlight. Excessive heat or humidity can cause the bone to swell or crack.

• Separate Sanctuary: Keep your bone pieces separate from other, heavier jewellery that could scratch or break the delicate structures. A small box or soft pouch is their ideal sanctuary.

Note on Yellowing: Over very long periods, natural bone may acquire a slight patina or yellowing. This is a normal part of the ageing process for organic materials and simply adds to the piece's unique history and character.

By following this Caretaker's Codex, you ensure that your Beautiful Remains Taxidermy treasure remains a powerful and elegant companion on your journey.

Sourcing of Specimens

All animals and invertebrates used at Beautiful Remains Taxidermy are ethically and legally sourced, in full compliance with our NSW Biodiversity Conservation Licence and aligned with our own deep respect for animal life.
We do not accept or work with animals that have been intentionally harmed, trapped, or killed for the purpose of taxidermy. Instead, specimens are sourced through one of the following means:

• Natural death: Animals found deceased by members of the public, landholders, or wildlife carers, where no harm was caused in their death.

• Veterinary euthanasia: Pets or animals euthanised by a registered veterinarian for legitimate health reasons, with proper documentation provided.

• Licensed pest control: Introduced pest species humanely culled by licensed hunters or landowners in accordance with pest management laws. Rather than being discarded, these animals are given dignity through preservation.

• Authorised transfers: Specimens from licensed zoos, wildlife carers, or institutions permitted to handle and release protected animal remains.

• Ethically farmed invertebrates: Insects and other invertebrates are sourced from sustainable, captive-bred populations and never collected from the wild to ensure ecological balance is preserved.

  Every specimen is assessed individually, and detailed records are kept for each animal, including its origin, legal status, and any third-party handling. This ensures complete traceability and transparency in my practice.
  Our work is guided not only by the law, but by ethics—and by a commitment to treating even the smallest life with care, reverence, and integrity.