FAQ – Lost Adornments

Frequently asked questions

Everything created is made with nature as best as possible. You will never find faux leather or fake bones here. Our mission is to "create from the earth, to return back to dust", utilizing what our planet offers us.

Ethical practice is at the forefront of our mission, so we have always been transparent with where we source. The bone specimens come from natural death, often sourced from reputable breeders, park rangers, animal rehabbers, pets, zoos and are even roadkill/scavenged. For antlers, deer shed them naturally, so they are simply gathered from the earth.

As a result, since the specimens we use live their fullest lives and die of natural causes, there can be "flaws" and "imperfections"...this is normal and often a sign of ethical sourcing versus "perfect" looking farmed sources.

In cases such as leather, materials are recycled or utilized from industries that would otherwise waste the materials.

For human teeth, we use remnants from the medical industry. We do not use human remains outside of teeth unless provided by a client themselves.

We actively work to use biodegradable materials, from nature, to dissolve back into it; recyclable materials such as metal, are able to be reused almost indefinitely without degradation. Animals for our bones are never raised or harmed for the purpose of art, only natural death. We actively work with people who support responsible preservation of wildlife, their habitats and the environment we share.

In an industry addicted to producing more, faster, cheaper, the materials from our world need to be utilized. Honoring the full arc of a material’s life. Remembering that nothing comes from nothing, and nothing truly disappears.

When fabricated with attention and care, these materials can easily last a lifetime and then some.

Some bugs are found, collected over the years from various places we have gone. If there is a story behind your particular bug, a card will come with information detailing where it was found! Otherwise, insects used come from the wonderful people over atThe Butterfly Company, a local Chicago group that practices ethics and sustainability in line with my own values. Occasionally, we will be gifted found critters as well (post death). All insects are spread in house by our lead designer.

Yes, you will have an option to chose various delivery services depending on your country. The buyer will be responsible for any duties and import fees.

Some items may not be legal to ship to your country. Please check with your local laws, or reach out if you have any concerns.

Custom: We do take on custom designs. Whether it`s a gift or for yourself, a special event, wedding, photoshoot or more, we would love to craft work of your dreams

Please note that we operate within our brand voice and artistic vision, if a project does not fit our work, we will not take it on.

Expect a response within 3-5 business days.

Pets: We have teamed up with The Insect Asylum of Chicago, and local taxidermists to offer processing of animal remains.

The turn-around time to process an animal will vary depending on what you desire, and rest-assured, we will process your loved pet in an honorable way.

Reach out and we`ll talk shop.

Current turn-around time for animal remains can be from 6 months- 1 year (dependent on services requested).

Freezer storage rental is currently available.

We offer piece rentals, custom work, prop making and styling for various industries. Please fill out the form HERE with any relevant information, the timeline and important details.

For any publication using/including our work, please include proper credits.

Wether you have been to Oddities expos and conventions, or you`re completely new to this world, there are sadly sellers who source un-ethically.

If a seller carries bats, they are rarely ethically sourced; either they are misinformed, or lying about how they attained these specimens. Bats are vital the the environment (a keystone species), acting as pollinators, pest control (mosquitoes, the bane of my existence) and studies of them have lead to human advancement in both the technology and health industries. We need them, and there are unfortunately poachers who steal them away to be sold to collectors. You will never find bats being sold or carried by us, ever.

Often times, you can also find cat skulls, baby ducks and "pre-articulated" lizards, snakes and frogs. They are mass culled, often improperly "cleaned" and lived in terrible conditions all for people to make a quick buck in the oddities industry.

If every specimen is perfectly uniform, this can be an indicator.

Look for sellers who are transparent about their sourcing and practices, as the term "ethical" varies person to person. When collecting pieces, do research and ask questions-from experience, it`s not hard to pick out those who have something to hide.

Always do your own research.