Buzz
While some individuals gather stamps or newspaper clippings, others venture into more unusual territories, collecting human skulls, skins, or even penis castings. Every collection has its origin, often ignited by an inexplicable fascination or a passion for the unique and bizarre. Is it a strange method of categorization, or a way to tap into the allure of celebrity culture and modern trends? The intricacies of human curiosity may remain a mystery. Some of the examples provided have evolved into businesses or hubs for those with similar niche interests. I invite readers to ponder what truly defines the macabre. Many of these collections are surrounded by controversy and legal battles over ownership and ethical concerns, which persist to this day. Listed in no specific order.
10. Tattoos
Featuring over 100 preserved masterpieces of tattooed skin from the deceased, this collection steers clear of modern designs like Celtic bands or Warner Bros. characters. Dr. Katsunari Fukushi’s assortment focuses on traditional Japanese “tebori” tattoos, applied by hand. Aimed at preservation and research, Fukushi’s archive includes rare Yakuza skins from as early as the 1920s. These unique pieces can be viewed by appointment at the University of Tokyo.
9. Bones
Ray Bandar’s 'Bone Palace' houses an astonishing 7,000 skulls, with the sole exception of his bedroom, kept skull-free at his wife’s insistence. At 79 years old, Bandar has spent over five decades dedicated to collecting skulls and bones, showcasing remarkable commitment. Armed with official permits, he has sourced his specimens from diverse locations worldwide, including zoos, beaches, and even roadside finds.
8. Medical Photos
The Dr. Stanley B. Burns Collection boasts one of the most esteemed historical photography archives, featuring operating room scenes, disease portrayals, wartime bodily injuries, post-mortem images, physical anomalies, and depictions of criminal acts such as public lynchings and executions. As the largest collection of its kind in the United States, it contains over 60,000 photographs.
7. Freaks
Peter the Great’s 'Kunstkammer' emerged from 15 years of gathering peculiar and rare artifacts from Russia and beyond, opening to the public in 1719. The collection includes two-headed animals, multi-limbed creatures, and preserved specimens, alongside Frederik Ruysch’s intricate anatomical dioramas, such as fetal skeletons framed by their preserved circulatory systems. In its early years, the museum even showcased live 'freaks.'
6. Death Masks
Laurence Hutton (1843-1904) sought to capture the true likenesses of notable figures by collecting death masks of historical and famous individuals. His collection features masks of Napoleon, Beethoven, Shakespeare, Goethe, Newton, and Charles XII, whose death mask reveals the bullet wound above his right brow. Today, the Hutton collection is preserved at Princeton University and can be viewed online.
5. Genital Casts
What started in 1968 as a college project and a unique way to 'meet interesting men' evolved into Cynthia Plaster Caster’s collection of plaster casts of famous (and lesser-known) penises. Her subjects primarily include rock stars and road managers. Early on, her casting partner would engage in oral contact to ensure a positive impression. In recent years, Cynthia has expanded her collection to include female subjects. Notable contributors include Jimi Hendrix, Jello Biafra, and Karen O.
4. Murderabilia
While the infamous 'killer clown,' John Wayne Gacy, served his life sentence, Rick Staton became his exclusive art dealer, emerging as one of America’s foremost collectors of murderabilia. Notable buyers of such items include painter Joe Coleman, Lux Interior and Poison Ivy from The Cramps, and shock rock artist Marilyn Manson. Although the Son of Sam Law prohibits criminals from profiting from their crimes through books or movies, murderabilia has gained traction online, and new legislation has been challenging to enforce due to First Amendment disputes. This has allowed the trade to persist. One proposed solution is the 'Stop The Sale Of Murderabilia To Protect The Dignity Of Crime Victims Act.'
3. Stuffed Animals
Walter Potter (1835-1918), a self-taught taxidermist, crafted peculiar dioramas featuring small deceased animals posed in human-like or unnatural scenarios. His works include gambling rats startled by a raid, mourning robins gathered around a miniature coffin, and a yard full of toads engaged in exercise. Sadly, his collection was dispersed and auctioned off to various buyers in 2003.
Contributor: Diogenes
2. Preserved Heads
General Horatio Gordon Robley (1840–1930) spent over a year meticulously sketching the early Maori people of New Zealand, capturing their intricate facial and body tattoos. He also amassed a collection of preserved Maori heads, viewing them as artistic masterpieces. When attempting to sell his collection, the New Zealand government declined, leaving most of the heads to end up in New York’s American Museum of Natural History, with only the finest five retained. In recent years, New Zealand has made efforts to repatriate Robley’s collection, along with other moko heads held in various institutions, with mixed success.
1. Hair Collection
Hair can be sold strand by strand or even by the inch! John Reznikoff’s collection includes strands from notable figures like Lincoln, Kennedy, Monroe, Einstein, Lennon, and Presley. When Britney Spears famously shaved her head, Reznikoff was quick to pursue her locks. He gained further recognition for donating a sample of Beethoven’s hair to LifeGem, a memorial service that transformed the carbon into three synthetic diamonds.
