Entry No. 14 — the Los Angeles file — filed under: oddities
Memento Mori
A small Hollywood storefront packed with vintage medical and dental instruments, mounted insects under glass, natural-history specimens, bones, and dark devotional art. Opened in 2014 by artists Bradley and Deirdre Hartman, it leans into the memento-mori theme with Day of the Dead pieces and curiosity-cabinet jewelry alongside the antique oddities. It sits just off Sunset, an easy stop before dinner.
The story
Walk a few paces off Sunset onto Wilcox Avenue and you'll find a quiet Hollywood storefront that takes the Latin reminder of your own mortality entirely literally. Opened in 2014 by artists Bradley and Deirdre Hartman, Memento Mori isn't a seasonal novelty shop or a slick tourist trap. It operates as a brick-and-mortar cabinet of curiosities, drawing a straight line between historical natural science and dark devotional craft.
The glass cases here house genuine antique medical and dental tools—reminders of an era before modern anesthesia—resting beside pinned insects, skulls, and natural history specimens. The inventory blends authentic historical oddities with custom jewelry, Day of the Dead artwork, and dark home décor, giving the room the distinct feel of a private 19th-century collector's sanctuary tucked into central Hollywood.
What it's like
The storefront is compact and quiet, offering an instant respite from the noise outside on Sunset. Browsing feels unhurried, as if you're taking a slow tour through someone's personal research library. You can examine delicate insect mounts, dark candles, and surgical steel in relative solitude. Because operating schedules for small independent storefronts like this can shift, confirm their current store hours online before heading out.
The move: Browse the cases of antique surgical tools and pinned insects together, then each pick out one small curiosity to take home.
- 📍 Hollywood, Los Angeles
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 1507 Wilcox Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Museum of Death — Double down on the macabre just two blocks away with a dense collection of true crime relics and death artifacts.
- Psychiatry: An Industry of Death Museum — Walk a couple minutes to Sunset Boulevard to inspect vintage psychiatric restraints and electroshock devices.
- Good Times at Davey Wayne's — Trade dark natural history for 1970s nostalgia by slipping through a vintage refrigerator door down the street.
- Hollywood Forever Cemetery — Take your reflection on mortality outdoors with a quiet stroll among the monuments of Old Hollywood less than a mile away.
Good to know
What exact kinds of oddities are sold here?
The shop carries antique medical and dental instruments, pinned insects under glass, bones, natural history specimens, dark candles, curiosity jewelry, and Day of the Dead pieces.
Who owns and runs Memento Mori?
It was established in 2014 by artists Bradley and Deirdre Hartman.
Where is the shop located in Hollywood?
You'll find it at 1507 Wilcox Ave, just off Sunset Boulevard.
How much time should I plan to spend here?
It's a small, intimate shop, making it an easy 20-to-30-minute stop before dinner or as part of a larger Hollywood walk.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · voyagela.com · labusinessjournal.com · Yelp
last checked: 2026-06-23