Glittering Purple REAL Deadly Nightshade 3 Blossom Sprig Necklace w/ Gold Vermeil Chain and Citrine

This necklace features a glittering purple fantasy painted REAL preserved 3 blossom sprig of deadly nightshade with a peridot and tanzanite Swarovski crystal adorned stem. The chain is gold plated sterling silver with faceted citrine beads. The only metallic elements in this piece are the stems and chain. The petals and the sepal leaves have been meticulously preserved, painted, and sealed, so everything you are seeing is the wicked flower itself. This process also ensures that the flower is safe to wear and handle.

Deadly nightshade, or belladonna, is a fabulously and famously poisonous plant. Every aspect of it, the stems, roots, leaves, dainty flowers, and delectable looking berries contain tropane alkaloids, which affect the central nervous system. Even the genus name of the plant, atropa, comes from the final Fate in Classical mythology. Atropos is the crone who cuts the threads of life and thus determines when each of us will die. The name belladonna comes from the Italian words for beautiful lady. 16th century women would put drops of nightshade in their eyes to dilate pupils for beauty's sake.