We often get fellow skull lovers sharing their skulls with us though our Facebook page and the contact section on our website. We absolutely love that you are all getting involved in our society!
It looks like Lizzie is starting her own Skull Appreciation Society with her amazing collection of skulls!
This beautifully shot Barbary lion skull is currently on display at the Natural History Museum in London and was photographed by Harry Taylor. I found this image on the Guardian Eyewitness app on my iPad – probably one of the coolest apps I have.
Here is another magnificent skull print by God Machine.
Here is the description from God Machine’s online shop:
“Lilith
It is said that Lilith was created at the same time as Adam like an equal, unlike Eve who was made from Adams rib. Lilith refused to be subservient to Adam because she was a strong and proud women. God sent angels to capture her and force her back into the garden of Eden. She refused and vowed her revenge. It is said that you can hear Lilith cries at night, in the wind and in the cries of the animals in the dark. Lilith was also thought to mean ‘Owl’.”
Limited Edition of 75
Only £25
Each one Signed and numbered.
Click here to buy Lilith from God Machine
The Empire of Death by Paul Koudounaris is a must-have book for any skull lover. I was lucky enough to win this beautiful edition through another skull-themed website called Obsessed With Skulls. I actually received my signed copy around 16:30 on Christmas eve, and boy was I happy, as it turns out it was my best Christmas gift (but don’t tell my girlfriend that).
The Empire of Death is available from Amazon and is on offer for £19.16.
The Empire of Death is a cultural history of ossuaries and charnel houses. Paul Koudounaris takes us on a well-documented and beautifully illustrative tour of numerous tombs which are situated throughout Europe including famous sites such as the Catacombs of Paris, the Sedlec Ossuary and the crypt of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini. The book actually got its name from the Catacombs in Paris where visitors are greeted with a sign telling them they are about to enter The Empire of Death.
Most of the tombs are covered top-to-bottom in skulls and bones, with the focus being human bone. These marvellously macabre surroundings are rather harrowing but intriguing too as they tell a story of religion, cultures, beliefs and views from different centuries past through architectural masterpieces.
Some of the images below have been taken from the book can also be bought as prints if you follow this link here.
Skeleton of Pancratius
Robed skeleton from Roman Cataccombs
Bavarian painted skulls (Dingolfing, Germany)
Capela dos Ossos (Alcantarilha, Portugal)
Mummified monk in the crypt of Santa Maria delle Concezione (Rome, Italy)
I have yet to finish it but so far it has blown my mind right out of my skull and back again. I would suggest getting yourself a copy now and get yourself educated on the interesting world of death.
Hi skull lovers
We are in the process of updating our blog so you might see some changes happening over the coming hours/days. Apologies for the disruption to your skull viewing pleasure!
Thanks very much for all your support so far, and don’t forget to keep coming back for some skulltacular goodness.
Death: A Self Portrait is an exhibition currently on show at the Welcome Collection in London and is from a collection of works from Richard Harris.
The exhibition has been running since November and will be closing its doors on the 24th February 2013 – I suggest going to see it; it’s free and full of skulls (not to forget loads of interesting information and history). See here for more details on Death: A Self Portrait.
The exhibition is one of the best that I have been too and contains a fantastically diverse collection of skulls, skeletons and anatomical art. The collection has been put together by Richard Harris and was inspired by anatomy in art, skulls and also death.
The collection comprises of around 1500 artworks and historical artefacts relating to death and Richard Harris started this collection in 2000 and is still collection works today. Harris has said: “As I get older the thought of my own demise has begun to enter my conscious thoughts. The universality of ‘Death,’ with the realisation that we will all die, encouraged me to begin the conversation of my mortality visually, rather than reading about it.”
You can see an interview below where he talks about the collection:
Just like Richard Harris, the exhibition also got me thinking of my own death – where will my skull be in a hundred years and what would I have done with it to not only enrich my life but also the lives of others.
All this time I have been drawn to skulls as objects for artistic expression but they are more than that. They represent our mortality, our life, past and present, and our imminent death. Initially when we started this blog posting skulls daily it was for enjoyment and to share our passion with you, but it’s more than that, it’s about celebrating life and death every day.
My favourite piece at the exhibition was this huge skull, Calavera from the Mondongo Collective (Argentina), plasticine on board, 2011; which is three-dimensional and and stands about 4 ft tall (rough guess). I have included the description from the Welcome Collection’s website below.
Calavera, Mondongo Collective (Argentina), plasticine on board, 2011
Argentinian collective Mondongo (the word for a traditional Argentinian tripe stew) assemble everyday things into irreverent three-dimensional collages. In this work, the economic and cultural dominance of Europe and the USA (represented by neoclassical architecture and Western literature) is seen to have radical consequences for South America (evoked by the villa miseria or shanty towns that are found close to Argentina’s largest cities). Copyright Mondongo Collective
Get on down to the Welcome Collection and explore death before it’s too late.
This is the second skull tattoo video time-lapse we’ve posted from Dark Design Graphics. The tattoo design features 3 skulls on top of each other surrounded by roses and a number of other different flowers. It’s a beautiful piece of work and I would love to get something similar.
You can view their other skull tattoo video here.
Skeletor was the arch nemesis to He-Man, the master of the universe. You have to be a hardcore bad-ass to be able to stand the onslaught from the man who harnesses the power of GRAYSKULL. To be honest I’m not sure why it has taken me this long to do this post, Skeletor’s skull is iconic!
Without further ado, here is the skull that used to give me nightmares when I was a wee nipper, but now sparks fond memories of my childhood – SKELETOR.
Skeletor by Dave Rapoza
Skeletor by 52 Baddudes
Skeletor Tshirt Design from Tee Fury
Skeletor found on Design Inspiration
Skeletor by Unholy
Skeletor and Heman by Laura Jul
Skeletor Street Art by Hancock
Skull Tattoos Feature
Every month we will be doing a feature on our skull-of-the-month. We’ll source the best skulls in the category and post them in one mammoth post for everyone to skullivate over.
We’ve gone with skull tattoos as the first Skull-of-the-Month with many more to follow, although I suspect skull tattoos will feature again. There are over 100 Skull Tattoos featured in this post, some good, some bad and some downright ridiculous but all equally as awesome. We hope you enjoy! Please share with your other skull-loving mates. Also, if you would like to see a particular skull feature then please let us know!
If we haven’t credited the artist correctly or do not display the artists name it’s because we do not know it, not for lack of trying, but some of the images we find and share are not correctly credited to the artist and are generally pilfered from blog after blog. If you know the artist please let us know and we’ll make sure the skull creator gets our appreciation.
Big Clown Skull on Tattoos Time
Leg sleeve Tat from 2 Face – Tattoo
Big Teeth Skull on Tattoo Watch
Back Skull on Tattoo Idea Pictures
Winged Chest Skull from Tattoos Time
Creepy Bat thing at Tattoos Time
Intricate Skull design by TWIY
James Woodford – Into You Tattoo
Mathew Dyson Tat from Lisa Massacre Deviant account
Photography by Mariamism
Artsist uknown from Twizted Lullaby Deviant account
Artsist unknown from Uzling Deviant Account
Artist : Robert Brekelmans from b13 Visuals Deviant Account
Skull Tattoos from Fuck Yeah Skull Tattoos
Tattoos from Scratchline Tattoos
Skull Tattoos found on Pinterest – artists unknown
Artist Unknown. Source
Artists unkownn. Source
Artist Unknown. Source.
Artist Unknown. Source
Jared Preslar on Lucky Bamboo Flickr
Jared Preslar on Lucky Bamboo Flickr
Seth Spanish . Source
Artist Unknown. Source
Philipp Banken Source
First of all, apologies for not getting this post up sooner! I was away on holiday in Italy and didn’t have internet connection. But I’m back so no more late posts!
This Fossilised Coral Skull Pendant was sent to us by a friend of ours, Anna, who is a gem stone specialist. She recently found this beautiful skull pendant and shared it with us on Facebook.
The skull is fossilised coral and the eyes of the skull are very fine emeralds. On top sits a spider made of gold, with diamond legs and a Tahitian pearl for its body. It’s absolutely beautiful! Thanks Anna! We’ll also be doing a post soon of all the skulls you, our fans, have been sending us so watch this space!
