Controversial German anatomist Gunther von Hagens, creator of the Body World exhibition of plastinated corpses, has launched a “merch” line. According to the Irish Times, you can now buy an entire plastinated body for €70,000, a torso for €55,644 and a loose head for €22,000 each. Jewelry made from plastinated animal slices is also available, in a section of the online shop called Lifestyle. (Shouldn’t that be Deathstyle?) From the Irish Times:
Only “qualified users” who can provide written proof that they intend to use the parts for research, teaching or medical purposes can place an order.
Interested parties who do not fall into this category can buy reproductions of the real body parts – so-called “Anatomy Glass” which the shop’s website describes as “high resolution acrylic glass prints of the original body slices”.
Jewellery crafted from animal corpses, including necklaces made from horse slices, wristbands made from giraffe tails and earrings made from bull penises, is also available to the general public.
The online shop has outraged leading members of Germany’s religious community. In a joint statement, Protestant regional bishop Ulrich Fischer and Catholic archbishop Robert Zollitsch condemned the online body shop, which they said was “breaking a taboo”.
Gubener Plastinate (Thanks Kaden, via Submitterator!)
“Anatomist sells body parts online” (Irish Times)