NOTE: The primary image has been editorially styled using AI to illustrate the dramatic impact of the piece when fully realized. AI does however make mistakes with scale and detail. To ensure that you have an accurate and satisfying purchase, please read the listing in its entirety and review all the photos. You will receive the exact necklace as shown in photos two through ten.
Lost Wax Crocodile Relic Chest Piece
OOAK Wearable Art from the Atelier of Kat Kouture
This is not a necklace—it is a relic.
Anchored by an oversized 4" x 2.5" hand-cast African lost wax brass crocodile bead, this sculptural chest piece is built from a convergence of global elements—Tibetan, African, and Asian components layered into a composition that feels collected rather than constructed.
Three structured strands form the architecture, each composed of bone, wood, brass, and stone elements that create a grounded, tactile rhythm. Vintage brass coins, repoussé beads, cagework forms, and hand-carved components move between refinement and rawness, giving the piece both density and dimension.
The palette is intentionally restrained—bone, sand, aged brass, and warm wood—allowing the form and materiality to carry the presence.
Despite its scale, the piece wears with surprising ease. The weight is concentrated in the central pendant, allowing the upper structure to sit securely at the collar while the lower strand anchors the composition.
Adjustable from 17"–20", it can be worn higher and more contained, or allowed a slightly longer drop depending on styling.
This is a unisex piece designed for presence—not ornament.
Details:
- Length: 17"–20" adjustable
- Oversized 4" x 2.5" African lost wax brass crocodile bead
- Bone, wood, brass, and mixed global components
- Lobster clasp with 3" extender
- Lightweight for scale (weight concentrated in pendant)
A commanding Kat Kouture piece—primal, architectural, and unmistakable.
