Our Lady of Mount Carmel Necklace | Catholic Statement Necklace | Antique Replica Mary Medal | Handmade Bronze Clay Jewelry

OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL STATEMENT NECKLACE

A striking piece of wearable devotional art, this Our Lady of Mount Carmel statement necklace was created from a substantial antique Catholic medal depicting the Blessed Mother with the Christ Child.

The antique original has a wonderful story of its own. At some point in its long history, the medal had been cut approximately one-quarter of the way through—most likely in an attempt to determine whether the metal was valuable. Before creating my mold, I carefully reconstructed the damaged area by hand with clay, preserving the beautiful original imagery while giving this treasured old medal new life.

The result is a substantial bronze replica with the presence and character of an antique—and a story that has survived with it.

THE DESIGN

The medal hangs from an elegant Art Nouveau-inspired link bale, attached with two etched rings that add another layer of Old World detail.

I paired it with a substantial matte-gold chain featuring alternating large links with beautiful twisted, ridged and textured details. The scale of the chain balances the larger medal beautifully and gives the entire necklace the appearance of an heirloom piece of fine jewelry.

The necklace is finished with a sturdy decorative lobster clasp.

This is not a delicate little religious medal. It was intentionally designed as a Catholic statement necklace—bold, sculptural and unmistakably devotional.

FROM AN ANTIQUE ORIGINAL

Each antique medal in my Crown of Grace collection is carefully chosen for its age, beauty, shape, subject matter and rarity. Many of the originals I work with are more than a century old.

I create a two-part silicone mold from the cherished antique original and individually hand press small-batch bronze clay into the mold, capturing the beautiful details—and even some of the timeworn character—of the original piece.

After drying, each medal is kiln fired at 1,420°F using a double-carbon firing process, transforming the clay into solid bronze.

Every medal is then hand wire-brushed to create my signature soft matte-gold base. Selected high-relief areas are polished by hand, allowing the image to catch the light and creating the luminous Baroque light-gold finish characteristic of Crown of Grace Designs.

Small variations and imperfections are part of this handmade process and are intentionally embraced. They give each piece the character of something with a history rather than something newly manufactured.

OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL

Feast Day: July 16

Our Lady of Mount Carmel is an ancient title honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary and is especially associated with the Carmelite Order, whose roots reach back to Christian hermits living on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land.

Devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel later became closely associated with the Brown Scapular, a beloved Catholic sacramental and outward sign of devotion to Mary and a life centered on Christ.

This necklace is a beautiful choice for someone with a special devotion to the Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Mount Carmel or Carmelite spirituality—or simply for someone drawn to the beauty and history of antique Catholic medals.

SIZE & SCALE

This is a substantial statement-size medal.

Please see the listing photograph showing the necklace beside a U.S. quarter for an accurate sense of its proportions. A quarter measures approximately 1 inch in diameter.

CHAIN & FINISH

The chains used in my designs are individually selected to complement the character and scale of each medal.

This chain features a durable, tarnish-resistant matte-gold finish and is nickel, cadmium and lead free.

JEWELRY CARE

To preserve the beauty of your Crown of Grace jewelry:

* Store in a dry, airtight jewelry box or container.
* Avoid direct contact with perfume, lotions and other chemicals.
* Gently wipe with a soft, dry cloth after wearing.
* Keep away from water and never immerse.
* Remove before bathing, showering or swimming.
* Remove before sleeping or participating in physical activity.

CROWN OF GRACE DESIGNS

Where age-old devotion meets modern artistry.

Each Crown of Grace piece begins with an antique devotional treasure and is recreated by hand in my Louisiana studio—preserving a small piece of Catholic history and transforming it into jewelry meant to be worn, loved and passed on.