A famous human bone collector has opened up a museum featuring a spine wall, nine full skeletons and 100 human skulls after a surprising increase in public demand.
Jon Pichaya Ferry, 22 from Brooklyn, New York is the founder and CEO of JonsBones and makes a living buying and selling human remains.
The medical entrepreneur first found fame on TikTok after sharing his creepy collection that he previously displayed in his tiny apartment.
Having since outgrown his previous location at home and in an effort to share it with more people, Jon has now moved the goods to a 175-sq. ft museum in Brooklyn’s Bushwick neighbourhood in New York City.
Jon, who first started his unusual business in 2018, estimates that the collection is now worth £435,000 ($500,000) and claims it is one of the largest independent collections of its kind in the US.
“While growing our online presence has allowed us to talk directly to the public in an open and transparent way, I knew the best way to continue my mission of making human osteology more accessible was by opening a showroom,” the owner of JonsBones told NeedToKnow.online.
“It will allow people an up-close and personal experience with our collection and an in-person chance to learn more about what we do.
“We have several pieces wholly unique to our collection – ranging from phantom skulls (a skull created using a composite material called Lucite to encase the skull in a glass-like form, to spine specimens exhibiting unique pathologies.
“Very rarely does the average person get to see the variety displayed in our collection.
“We have nine full skeletons, including a vintage Oddfellows skeleton complete with the original storage coffin built for it and an ever-expanding collection of articulated human spines.
“We have a wide variety of human skulls prepared in multiple different ways from demonstrative to explanatory to uncut.”
Museum visitors can also view an extensive amount of medical bones and learn more about the trade itself and its history, as well as examine unique pieces.
Jon’s obsession with osteology began when he was 15 after his father gifted him a mouse skeleton he had articulated for a science fair.
He went on to purchase his first skull at university in 2018.
Although many consider his business controversial, he claims that the bones are responsibly sourced and only provided for the purpose of education.
Jon says many of his bones are bought from people who have had human remains passed down to them from relatives.
He added: “It is a stigmatised trade but I want to create an environment that not only prioritises education but informs customers and defeats social stigmas.”
Anyone unable to visit the morbid collection in person – or who fancies buying a piece for themselves – can do so through his online shop.
Some of the items currently up for grabs include human vertebrate bones alongside ribs and teeth.
