For most people, Halloween is the designated time for macabre findings. But the same isn’t true for everyone. There are plenty of people who celebrate the darker side of life in their daily routines—for example, by using skull charcoal when barbecuing.
Whether you identify as a goth, are into the dark arts, or simply like playing practical jokes, you’ll love the charcoal skulls that Japanese artist Sekisadamu (@gorovodka) has created.
[WF2019冬のお品書き]
卓番7-28-06にて
<新作>
ドクロ木炭 １個 500円
２００個以上持ち込みます。
今回は植物由来成分100%です。
焚火台に山盛りにしておくので気に入った子をご指名ください。
WF初の素材かと思います。取扱説明書を読み正しくお使いください。#wf2019s #木炭 #消炭 #炭団 pic.twitter.com/sz07hlF38h— セキサダム (@gorovodka) February 6, 2019
The inspiration
Sekisadamu attends the Wonder Festival in Chiba, Japan, every year. As a recognizable name, he has to create something new and thought-provoking every year. Last year he thought it would be fun and cool to create charcoal in the shape of human skulls.
Read more: Bearpit Karaoke at the Berlin Death Strip
Every piece is perfectly engineered. Any unsuspecting neighbor glancing across at your friendly barbecue will feel a chill go through their body as they see the skulls staring back at them from the flames. They look even better after they’ve been on the barbecue for a little while.
ドクロ炭の通販サイトを作成しました。https://t.co/GK9eb2Grff
現状、在庫の管理が難しいため１０個のセットのみの販売となります。
また、1日に1セット～２セットを作るのが限界です。 天候によっては作れない日も出てきます。
お待たせする場合もございますがなにとぞよろしくお願いします。 pic.twitter.com/E5xaJMktOZ— セキサダム (@gorovodka) March 3, 2019
The idea was certainly well-received. Sekisadamu made 261 skulls for the festival and sold all of them within 40 minutes. He decided to take his idea one step further: he’s currently working on a life-size charcoal human skull!
The full-size version is likely to set you back around 500 JPY ($4.65) which means you may never want to burn it. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun with it at the neighbor’s expense!
1/1つくるときは頭蓋骨の部位ごとに分けて作るつもり 全然できてないけど完成したら実際の頭蓋骨に等しい木炭ができるはず 20部品以上あるから、安くできないのが何点 pic.twitter.com/WEXjTDPope
— セキサダム (@gorovodka) February 9, 2019
How skull charcoal is made
The charcoal skulls are made from crushed charcoal and plant-derived materials. These combine to create a putty which is then molded to form skulls. They are 100% natural and so life-like that you wouldn’t be blamed for thinking someone found a way to shrink human heads and burn them!
Skull charcoal burns better than regular charcoal, and you’ll find it difficult to locate anything else as macabre or awesome!
ソロ牡蠣パーティ pic.twitter.com/FaVlO05gGt
— セキサダム (@gorovodka) June 6, 2020
The popularity of skull charcoal may have surprised Sekisadamu, but it really shouldn’t have. The skulls are realistic and will add flourish to any event.
The future for skull charcoal
With more than 13,000 “likes” and almost 9,000 retweets in a number of hours for his tweet announcing his skull charcoal, it’s no surprise that Sekisadamu has requested a patent for his design.
Read more: Motion Sickness Glasses Could Banish the Travel Sickness Blues
He’s also created a dedicated website that allows you to see the charcoal skulls and order them in time for your next barbecue. Unfortunately, these charcoal skulls are not currently available outside of Japan, due to production issues, which don’t appear to be resolved soon.
Skull charcoal is processed and shaped using a different method than traditional charcoal. The Japanese artist believes the different process is the reason why manufacturers have, so far, refused to mass produce these skulls for market. The technique and design are possibly too complicated.
