Vintage 14k Gold Make a Wish Wishbone Pendant

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This sterling silver pendant is part of Kirsten’s Corner Signature Collection and was molded from an actual wishbone. I made … Read more This sterling silver pendant is part of Kirsten’s Corner Signature Collection and was molded from an actual wishbone. I made this pendant because wishbones remind me of my mom, who would always save the wishbone when we had roasted chicken or turkey for dinner. She would dry them out so my brother and I could pull them apart and make a wish. I remember how exciting it was to pull the bone apart and hope that I ended up with the longer piece so that my wish would come true.

Though the tradition is popular in the United States, the history of wishbones actually originates with the Ancient Etruscans, who believed birds were oracles. They would hold the dried “fercula” (collar bones) in their hands while making wishes. The tradition carried over to Ancient Rome, where the lucky bones were in such demand that people began breaking them in half; the phrases “lucky break” and “can’t catch a break” can be traced back to the Ancient Romans. The tradition was passed down through England, and then the United States, where it remains a beloved Thanksgiving ritual.

This pendant is anatomically accurate, as I created the mold by using the fercula of a Cornish hen, which has a smaller size perfect for a pendant. I sanded and gesso-ed the bone, and carved a hole at the top to create a bail. Our jeweler rendered the wishbone in sterling silver and textured the silver to make it reminiscent of bone. The pendant makes a perfect talisman for hope and optimism, and for dreams and wishes coming true. Or if a wishbone brings back childhood memories, like it does for me, it can be worn as a loving reminder of our favorite relatives.

The pendant measures 1 11/16” x 7/8” and weighs 2.55 grams. The opening of the bail is 6.3 x 4.6 mm. Unmarked; acid tests as sterling silver. See less