Who are we?
Rivenell's Arts and Oddities was started in September 2023 with the mission to provide the alternative community unique, ethical and affordable home décor, gothic jewellery and original artwork.
It's our belief that just because an aesthetic is niche, it shouldn't cost so much that it becomes inaccessible.
Every effort is made to provide items that are high quality and cruelty free, while keeping costs down as much as possible.
The same goes for our original artwork - we firmly believe that artwork should not cost insane amounts, and art itself should be available and accessible for all. With this in mind, we endeavour to offer original artwork for your home at more affordable prices, while still ensuring artists are compensated for their time, knowledge and experience.
All specimens used are sourced in ethical ways. We do our utmost to ensure that no animals are harmed for the sake of products. This includes not using animal remains that are a by product of the fur and skin trade.
Its our mission to ensure that whatever specimen is used, is used in a way that honours the animal's life and goes on to be loved and cherished in its new form.
So... where do they come from?
Skulls and Bones
Skulls and bones used are for the most part, nature found. There are bone hunters up and down the UK that make it their hobby to go out and find what nature no longer needs. We then will buy the specimens and if needed, finish the cleaning and whitening process so they are ready to use. Some specimens may also be a result of unfortunate road kill or pest control processes (any skulls that are a result of pest control will have this noted in their product description).
Some skulls will also come from pet owners - when a loved pet has passed on, some individuals have graciously passed on the skeletal remains to us for them to be repurposed into new items for others to love and cherish as much as they did while the animal was alive.
Smaller bones and skulls, mainly used in our resin jewellery, are sourced from owl pellets. These are found or purchased, dissected and then the bones cleaned and whitened ready for use.
Butterfly and moth specimens predominately sourced from conservation projects both within, and outside of the UK. This also includes sustainable farming projects - specimens are never taken from the wild, nor killed before their natural time.
Some specimens may also come from private breeders/collectors who keep the animals as pets and allow them to pass naturally before on occasion, offering specimens for sale.
The same goes for the beetle specimens - these will be sourced via private collectors and breeders as with moths.
Butterflies, Moths and Beetles
Bees
Where any bees are used for items, these are ONLY come from bees that have unfortunately passed naturally and are then found in our local area.
We absolutely do not purchase any bees at all for use with our products.
Snakeskin comes from individuals known personally to the business founder who keep snakes as pampered pets. The skin is shed naturally and collected by the pet's owner.
Spiderwebs are sourced from local gardens and preserved before framing. We always first ensure that the web is abandoned before attempting to collect and preserve it.
Snakeskin and Spiderwebs
Other Items
Other items such as full taxidermy items, bird feet and animal tails are sourced either from private collectors or road kill.
For full taxidermy items, we do our due diligence and will approach the owner with regards to where the specimen has come from to ensure it aligns with our mission and ethics before a purchase takes place.
Items such as bird feet or mammal tails (used commonly for accessories and jewellery) are take from unfortunate road kill victims and preserved. Again, we will ensure that these items are not taken from animals that may have been victims of unethical treatment, such as hunting.
Artwork
Art pieces available are all original and (unless otherwise stated) are created by Rivenell's Arts and Oddities owner, Chloe Rivenell.
Chloe has used art as an escape and form of expression since a young age. Her art approaches a broad scale of subjects - from struggles with mental health, studies of what it means to her to be a woman and death, all the way to the realms of fantasy and dreams.
Chloe never pre plans or gives much thought to a piece before the creative process starts, preferring instead to start with a general idea and put paintbrush to canvas, pencil to paper, or hand to whichever medium being used, and allowing her heart and hands to take over.
Queries About Our Specimens?
Please don't be afraid to contact us with any questions you may have about our products!
Just use the link below to go to our contact form