An unfortunate cadaver lies where oddities come alive and stories unfold.
Did you find something with a blue and white anchor in your package from us?
We’ve been spreading the Find Your Anchor () love lately with orders although we are not affiliated with them directly—we fully support their message and believe everyone should find their anchor in life.
If you find yourself in distress or feel like there’s no way out—please call 988. It is the National Su***de and Crisis Lifeline. You matter and you deserve to see tomorrow 🫶🏼
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A new handful of necklaces found their way to the shop!
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In the world of maceration, a longstanding tradition suggests that spitting in the bucket accelerates bacterial culture. However, examining the enzymatic properties of saliva, specifically salivary amylase, reveals a potential mismatch with the intended protein breakdown.
Spit and Starch Connection:
Saliva contains salivary amylase, designed for starch digestion. Yet, in maceration where protein degradation is crucial, relying solely on saliva may fall short. The myth may stem from a misunderstanding of saliva's enzymatic functions.
Missing Link: Pepsin and Protein Breakdown:
Effective maceration requires stomach enzymes, like pepsin, which excels in breaking down proteins. Unlike salivary amylase, pepsin's specificity underscores the need for a more targeted enzymatic approach. The absence of stomach enzymes in saliva questions the efficacy of spitting in the maceration bucket.
Scientific Insights into Maceration:
To optimize bacterial culture and hasten maceration, understanding enzymatic roles is crucial. While saliva contributes to microbial activity, the specificity of enzymes like pepsin highlights the importance of a scientifically informed approach.
Practical Recommendations:
For maceration practitioners, reconsidering the traditional act of spitting may be beneficial. Incorporating stomach enzymes or enzymatic additives offers a more efficient means of promoting protein breakdown, enhancing maceration outcomes.
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Stillborn Angora bunny kits are available on the shop!
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The wee gremlin baby came home today, he’s a shy boy still.
Rosenrot Fieber 🐾
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Cleaning bones with bromelain is a unique method explored in various fields. Bromelain, derived from pineapple, breaks down proteins like collagen, aiding in tissue decomposition. To apply this method:
Selecting Bones: Begin with partially defleshed bones, free from excess tissue.
Bromelain Solution: Dilute bromelain powder or use fresh pineapple juice (1-2 grams per liter of water).
Submersion: Immerse bones in the solution, enhancing effectiveness with a slightly acidic pH.
Temperature and Duration: Maintain 40-50°C (104-122°F) for optimal enzyme activity, soaking bones for days.
Rinsing and Neutralizing: Rinse bones thoroughly, then neutralize any remaining enzyme activity with a mildly alkaline solution.
Scientifically, bromelain's proteolytic enzymes break peptide bonds, accelerating collagen breakdown. Considerations include variable results, structural preservation, and safety measures (protective gear is advised).
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There’s a very limited amount of jewelry grab bags left on the shop, sn**ch one while they’re still here!
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You ever feel like you’re being judged every time you open the freezer door?
Good because same 🦝
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Fur slippage, a common challenge in preserving animal specimens, results from various factors spanning pre-preservation and preservation stages. Before preservation, trauma, stress, environmental exposure, microbial colonization, and animal activity can weaken tissue integrity. During preservation, decomposition processes, pH imbalance, excessive moisture, fixation issues, and improper handling/storage exacerbate fur slippage risks.
Prevention involves prompt retrieval, minimizing stress, environmental control, thorough cleaning, proper fixation, pH optimization, moisture regulation, gentle handling/storage, and regular monitoring. These practices ensure tissue stabilization, minimize enzymatic degradation, and maintain fur-skin bonds. By implementing these measures, researchers and collectors can effectively mitigate fur slippage risks and preserve specimens for future study and appreciation.
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Something new to introduce to the shop…
Bookmarks!
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Bones, bones everywhere but none clean enough to sell.
So let’s have a quiz instead!
Who can tell me the skull species in the photo? 👀
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Learn how to preserve an animal specimen using silica beads and isopropyl alcohol. Follow these steps for a successful preservation:
Materials Needed:
- Gloves
- Knife or scalpel
- Silica beads
- 91% isopropyl alcohol
- Container or tray
- Syringe
- Pins
- Cardboard or styrofoam
Steps:
Preparation: Wear gloves and work in a ventilated area.
Skinning (optional): Skin the animal if preserving the hide.
Soaking: Inject alcohol into the body cavity. Soak the specimen in alcohol for 24-48 hours.
Positioning: Place on cardboard or styrofoam, pin in place.
Drying: Air dry for a few hours. Once air dried, fill Tupperware bin halfway with silica beads. Place specimen into the bin then continue filling the bin, covering specimen completely with them.
Final Drying: Dry in a cool, dry area for several weeks.
Tips:
- Shake bin regularly to stir beads around.
- Keep the specimen in a dry environment.
- Place silica beads on cookie sheet and recharge in oven after done if indicator beads change color.
For more detailed information on dry preservation, visit our website!
Got questions? Drop them below!
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Kitty jawbone earrings are available from the shop!
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It may be a disappointment to some, but I’m kind of a hermit 🤷🏻♂️
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Formalin, a solution of formaldehyde in water, is a commonly used substance in laboratories and medical facilities for its disinfectant and preservative properties. However, due to its hazardous nature, proper disposal is paramount to prevent harm to human health and the environment.
Clearly label the container containing the formalin waste. Use labels indicating the contents as "Formalin Waste" to alert others of its hazardous nature. Proper labeling is essential for safe handling and disposal, as well as for regulatory compliance.
Seal the container tightly to prevent leaks or spills during transportation and disposal. Use a container made of a compatible material that can withstand the properties of formalin. Ensure that the lid is securely fastened to prevent any accidental exposure.
Contact your local hazardous waste disposal facility or regulatory agency for guidance on proper disposal methods. Follow their instructions carefully to ensure compliance with local regulations. Never pour formalin down the drain or dispose of it with regular trash, as this can contaminate water sources and harm the environment.
Wear appropriate PPE, such as gloves and safety goggles, when handling formalin to protect yourself from exposure. Follow all safety protocols and procedures to minimize the risk of accidents and injuries.
Handle the container with care during transport to the disposal facility. Avoid any potential spills or leaks by securely fastening the lid and placing the container in a secondary containment vessel if necessary. Follow transportation regulations and guidelines to ensure safe transit.
Keep detailed records of the disposal process, including the date, quantity, and method of disposal. This documentation may be required for regulatory compliance, auditing purposes, and internal record-keeping. Maintain accurate records to demonstrate proper disposal practices and accountability.
Damn, that’s bright 🥹
Just something that’s been in the works for imperfect pieces, these were stained and will be offered as ‘neglected’ specimens to brighten up a collection.
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Who is he?
Sometimes there are imperfect pieces that come into the shop (such as this gentleman who’s lost his head). Instead of tossing them, they get repurposed into quirky pieces deserving of love despite the imperfections they may have.
He’s currently drying and will be listed later this month as a ‘neglected’ specimen :)
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How do I access the library?
Either find the AOR Resource Library tab on the main navigation bar (the enroll button will take you directly to the membership fee listing) or you can search for ‘Art of Reanimation Membership’ using the search bar on the main menu.
Once purchased, make sure you use the same email to sign up for an account—you will use it to log in and access the library section of the site!
If there’s any bugs, glitches, or kinks—or if you have specific content you would like more articles on, feel free to reach out to me on here!
It is a one time fee membership, we are testing out the ‘pay what you want’ pricing model.
You will not be charged monthly and once paid—you will always have access by logging in.
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Fossils are slowly infiltrating the shop, including these fossilized horse teeth!
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Always a full cooler to degrease, what’s the first thing you see in this load?
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When you purchase a wet specimen, the alcohol should be clear. Slight discoloration may happen over time but the jars shouldn’t look like someone peed in them either 🤣
If you see a specimen on a table with heavily discolored alcohol or fluids that look like they’re mixed with oil, there is a good chance that:
A. It was not properly leeched and the discoloration is formalin leeching into the alcohol.
or
B. It is leeching decomp fluids due to improper preservation.
Properly fixed reptiles and snakes can discolor alcohol due to melanin loss, lipids can leech out, and some specimens can “expel” any bodily fluids they’ve had accumulated before death, usually 💩.
While sometimes shops will process specimens “too fast” when it comes to leeching them properly, it is very advisable to make sure they’re being leeched properly due to the toxicity of the formalin. We do not want our customers to be put into the situation where they are being exposed to or sold specimens being held in formalin, a properly leeched specimen means less chance of getting formalin tinged alcohol for the customer to have to dispose of.
When you purchase wets, ASK about their leech process. We don’t want our customers being exposed to hazardous chemicals any more than what the average properly leeched wet specimen will offer (which, you should still wear gloves handling any wet preserved pieces, but they are a lot safer when they’re properly leeched).
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🌈 Happy Pride Month! 🌈
As we celebrate the beautiful spectrum of love and identity, let's remember to uplift and support our small LGBT+ owned businesses instead of shopping with the rainbow washed big corporations!
I'm thrilled to announce that I'm running one myself as well, Unfortunate Cadaver is LGBT+ owned and operated small business!
So this Pride Month, let's shop with purpose and pride. Let's amplify the voices and visions of our LGBT+ entrepreneurs. Together, let's build a world where everyone can thrive authentically, unapologetically, and beautifully. 🏳️🌈
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Adolescent North American Porcupines (Erethizon dorsatus)
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Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot of posts that are selling incredibly greasy bones either worked into jewelry or other “finished” art pieces.
This can cause a problem due to various reasons, but the biggest one being the fact that if there is still grease trapped in bones, it will eventually leech out and cause both well, greasy bones to the touch and a potential biological hazard to the owners as well.
The reasons we degrease and clean skulls this way are to get rid of any biological tissues and grease in the bones.
Not removing all the grease in them can result in:
Grease eventually leaking from them and smelling badly, mold growth, and other biological problems due to essentially leaving bacteria in the bones and keeping them in your home.
There is nothing wrong with liking the look of natural bones, if this is something you are looking to achieve, I would suggest fully degreasing without the whitening step or naturally staining them with something like coffee or tea to achieve the ‘dirty’ or natural look to them instead of keeping them greasy.
What isn’t okay is selling greasy pieces as exorbitantly priced “finished” products to people who may or may not know better when it comes to “what’s clean” for bones. Investing in your education will pay off better than doing things in ignorance.
A quick step-by-step for degreasing taken from my PDF on bone cleaning:
‘Once your bones are tissue/flesh and debris free, you will want to fill a container up with hot water and Dawn dish soap. This is your degreasing bath, and it should be changed out with fresh water and dawn every few days. It takes weeks to properly degrease bones depending on the size and species they are coming from (bears for example are notoriously hard to degrease and can take up to 6+ months to fully clean).’
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Just a little peek at the restock tonight (Wednesday, May 29th) at 7PM EST!
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None on the shop yet, but I have a few trash pandas in the cooler soaking! 🦝
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Isopropyl alcohol is NOT a fixative chemical. It is safe to store your wet specimens in but it will not stop the decomposition process if they’re injected with it.
There is no discussion to that fact, if you fix something with any percentage of isopropyl alcohol—it will end up rotting. Isopropyl will delay the decomposition process but it will not fully stop it like formalin does.
There is a lot of misinformation being spread on social media regarding this, I’ve been seeing this on TikTok most recently myself. It will result in your specimens rotting in time (days-months time, not years).
The only proper ways of fixing a wet specimen are formalin or ethanol preservation (high grade edible alcohol will do as well, like Everclear). Ethanol preservation is a little more tricky than formalin preservation due to the need to keep it suspended in ethanol for the life of the specimen, rather than how formalin specimens are able transition to isopropyl alcohol for storage.
With this being said, you should 1000% be sure you have the correct PPE before working with formalin due to the cancer risks of this chemical.
Bonus:
The pe*******on rate of formalin can be expressed as d = K√t, where d is the depth of pe*******on, K
is the coefficient of diffusion (specific for each fixative), and t is the time.
In practical terms this means that the coefficient of diffusion (K) is the distance in
millimeters that the fixative has diffused into the tissue in one hour. For 10%
formalin K = 0.78.
Your formalin fixative should not be expected to pe*****te more than 1 mm in an
hour (assume 1” of pe*******on per 24hr day).
(Medawar PB. The rate of pe*******on of fixatives. J Royal Micros Soc 1941;61;46-
57.)
Come see us at:
Unfortunatecadaver.com
Study of death and natural mummification.
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Bite the hand that beats you, make them shed blood. 🩸
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Come load the degreasing cooler with me! Link in bio #oddities #odditiesandcuriosities #bonehunting #wunderkammer #oddityshop #bonejewelry #unfortunatecadaver #vultureculture #boneartist #itwasdeadwhenwemet #darkcottagecore #skulls #goblincore #shopsmall #oddity #gothic #smallbusiness #cabinetofcuriosities #witchy #alt #collection #biology
And one of these days, I’m going to run into the woods and never be heard from again. 🌲 Link in bio #oddities #odditiesandcuriosities #bonehunting #wunderkammer #oddityshop #bonejewelry #unfortunatecadaver #vultureculture #boneartist #itwasdeadwhenwemet #darkcottagecore #skulls #goblincore #shopsmall #oddity #gothic #smallbusiness #cabinetofcuriosities #witchy #alt #collection #biology
Popping a 30% off sale (discount automatically added at checkout) to cover some upcoming expenses :) Valid from 6/4-6/11! Link in bio #oddities #odditiesandcuriosities #bonehunting #wunderkammer #oddityshop #bonejewelry #unfortunatecadaver #vultureculture #boneartist #itwasdeadwhenwemet #darkcottagecore #skulls #goblincore #shopsmall #oddity #gothic #smallbusiness #cabinetofcuriosities #witchy #alt #collection #biology
One last parakeet is available on the shop! Link in bio #oddities #odditiesandcuriosities #wunderkammer #oddityshop #bonejewelry #deadthingsinjars #unfortunatecadaver #vultureculture #weirdandwonderful #creepitreal #itwasdeadwhenwemet #darkcottagecore #foryou #shopsmall #local #bonecollector #oddity #oddityshop #gothic #altjewelry #odditiesforsale #smallbusiness #cabinetofcuriosities
Forever appreciating the little things in life, because there’s been too many days where I never wanted to wake up. Link in bio #oddities #odditiesandcuriosities #wunderkammer #oddityshop #bonejewelry #deadthingsinjars #unfortunatecadaver #vultureculture #weirdandwonderful #creepitreal #itwasdeadwhenwemet #darkcottagecore #foryou #shopsmall #local #bonecollector #oddity #oddityshop #gothic #altjewelry #odditiesforsale #smallbusiness #cabinetofcuriosities
Don’t 🤬 boil bones! Also voice reveal? Link in bio #oddities #odditiesandcuriosities #wunderkammer #oddityshop #bonejewelry #deadthingsinjars #unfortunatecadaver #vultureculture #weirdandwonderful #creepitreal #itwasdeadwhenwemet #darkcottagecore #foryou #shopsmall #local #bonecollector #oddity #oddityshop #gothic #altjewelry #odditiesforsale #smallbusiness #cabinetofcuriosities
Reminiscing about bears. 🐻 Link in bio. #oddities #odditiesandcuriosities #wunderkammer #oddityshop #bonejewelry #deadthingsinjars #unfortunatecadaver #vultureculture #weirdandwonderful #creepitreal #itwasdeadwhenwemet #darkcottagecore #foryou #shopsmall #local #bonecollector #oddity #oddityshop #gothic #altjewelry #odditiesforsale #smallbusiness #cabinetofcuriosities
Some of my favorite pieces that are still available! My shop can be found at: UnfortunateCadaver.com #oddities #odditiesandcuriosities #wunderkammer #oddityshop #bonejewelry #deadthingsinjars #unfortunatecadaver #vultureculture #weirdandwonderful #creepitreal #itwasdeadwhenwemet #darkcottagecore #foryou #shopsmall #local #bonecollector #oddity #oddityshop #gothic #altjewelry #odditiesforsale #smallbusiness #cabinetofcuriosities
Taking a slow day, packing orders and reconnecting to myself today. My shop can be found at: UnfortunateCadaver.com #oddities #odditiesandcuriosities #wunderkammer #oddityshop #bonejewelry #deadthingsinjars #unfortunatecadaver #vultureculture #weirdandwonderful #creepitreal #itwasdeadwhenwemet #darkcottagecore #foryou #shopsmall #local #bonecollector #oddity #oddityshop #gothic #altjewelry #odditiesforsale #smallbusiness #cabinetofcuriosities
Just dropped these dental X-Ray earrings on the shop! My shop can be found at: UnfortunateCadaver.com #oddities #odditiesandcuriosities #wunderkammer #oddityshop #bonejewelry #deadthingsinjars #unfortunatecadaver #vultureculture #weirdandwonderful #creepitreal #itwasdeadwhenwemet #darkcottagecore #foryou #shopsmall #local #bonecollector #oddity #oddityshop #gothic #altjewelry #odditiesforsale #smallbusiness #cabinetofcuriosities
I just listed a handful of $20 craft grade skulls on the shop! They could use a little more love degreasing and will be discounted to make up for it but I need to clean the cooler for the next round of ‘A Grade’ skulls coming in soon 🤘🏻 My work can be found at: Unfortunatecadaver.com #oddities #odditiesandcuriosities #wunderkammer #oddityshop #bonejewelry #deadthingsinjars #unfortunatecadaver #vultureculture #weirdandwonderful #creepitreal #itwasdeadwhenwemet #darkcottagecore #foryou #shopsmall #local #bonecollector #oddity #oddityshop #gothic #altjewelry #odditiesforsale #smallbusiness #cabinetofcuriosities
***EDUCATIONAL POST*** Isopropyl alcohol is NOT a fixative chemical. It is safe to store your wet specimens in but it will not stop the decomposition process if they’re injected with it. There is no discussion to that fact, if you fix something with any percentage of isopropyl alcohol—it will end up rotting. Isopropyl will delay the decomposition process but it will not fully stop it like formalin does. There is a lot of misinformation being spread on social media regarding this, I’ve been seeing this on TikTok most recently myself. It will result in your specimens rotting in time (days-months time, not years). The only proper ways of fixing a wet specimen are formalin or ethanol preservation (high grade edible alcohol will do as well, like Everclear). Ethanol preservation is a little more tricky than formalin preservation due to the need to keep it suspended in ethanol for the life of the specimen, rather than how formalin specimens are able transition to isopropyl alcohol for storage. With this being said, you should 1000% be sure you have the correct PPE before working with formalin due to the cancer risks of this chemical. Bonus: The penetration rate of formalin can be expressed as d = K√t, where d is the depth of penetration, K is the coefficient of diffusion (specific for each fixative), and t is the time. In practical terms this means that the coefficient of diffusion (K) is the distance in millimeters that the fixative has diffused into the tissue in one hour. For 10% formalin K = 0.78. Your formalin fixative should not be expected to penetrate more than 1 mm in an hour (assume 1” of penetration per 24hr day). (Medawar PB. The rate of penetration of fixatives. J Royal Micros Soc 1941;61;46- 57.) Come see us at: Unfortunatecadaver.com #oddities #odditiesandcuriosities #wunderkammer #oddityshop #boneart #bonejewelry #taxidermy #oddart #deadthingsinjars #unfortunatecadaver #vultureculture #weirdandwonderful #creepitreal #itwasdeadwhenwemet
556 comments this time! Yall really did it 😃 Congratulations to @emeraldtiger.designs for winning this month’s giveaway! I’ll be in touch momentarily for an address to ship the mystery box to! Be sure to keep your eyes out for the next giveaway, we will be shooting for one every few months. We can be found at: Unfortunatecadaver.com #oddities #odditiesandcuriosities #wunderkammer #oddityshop #bonejewelry #deadthingsinjars #unfortunatecadaver #vultureculture #weirdandwonderful #creepitreal #itwasdeadwhenwemet #darkcottagecore #foryou #shopsmall #local #bonecollector #oddity #oddityshop #gothic #altjewelry #odditiesforsale #smallbusiness #cabinetofcuriosities
***NFS*** Had to get photos of this cutie after I started his leeching bath. He’ll be off to his home by the 12th!He was unfortunately a failure to thrive baby, we strive to keep our sourcing as sustainable as possible.Come see us at:Unfortunatecadaver.com
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