Unique Jewelry Featuring Intricate Tiny Skulls and Faces Carved Into Pearls and Other Found Objects

Pearl Skull Hand

Japanese jewelry artist Shinji Nakaba has crafted a wonderful line of wearable sculptures that features remarkably tiny skulls and faces carved into tiny pearls and other found objects. According to Nakaba, no material is more valuable than another.

(translated) I am making jewelry from recognition as “wearable sculpture” I use not only precious metals and stones but also something usual,such as aluminum Beer can or plastic bottle,or even some discarded materials.
I’m dealing all the materials equally no matter how precious or not precious they are.

Items can be purchased through Nakaba’s online store.

Skull1

We Are the World

Pearl Skulls

Moon Ring

Cat Skull Ring
Pearl and Lavendar

Vanitas1 Vanitas

Skulls Ring

images via Shinji Nakaba

via Magnifico

Lori Dorn
Lori Dorn

Lori is a Laughing Squid Contributing Editor based in New York City who has been writing blog posts for over a decade. She also enjoys making jewelry, playing guitar, taking photos and mixing craft cocktails.