Fire & Bone: 3D scanned and printed animal skulls to wear or display

Following the success of their first Kickstarter campaign back in January of this year, the makers of Fire & Bone, miniature animal skull replicas, reproduced in high detail using 3D scanning, 3D printing and traditional lost wax casting, are back with a new and exciting second collection of what they claim to be amazing, true-to-life jewelry and collectible pieces derived from real animal skulls.

While 3D scanned and printed jewelry and other kinds of collectibles are no longer considered new and outlandish, these guys claim to bring something to the table that no one else does: miniature skulls that are highly detailed and faithful to what nature has designed herself.

The makers of Fire & Bone take pride in their ability to blend the traditional way of doing things with cutting edge, modern techniques, resulting in a timeless-looking product with a refreshing contemporary twist. The final product could be quite the delectable item for the true animal lover as well as collectors at large who may wish to adorn themselves, or their mantels with these pieces.

The process of creating the Fire & Bone collection begins with digital scanning of real animal skulls, in high detail. The piece is then digitally scaled down to a desired size of the collectible or jewelry item, retaining the amount of detail captured initially. To achieve the final pieces, the creators reproduce the miniature model in wax with a professional level high-resolution 3D printer. The wax model is turned into a master mold, allowing the skulls to be cast in a desired metal using traditional lost-wax casting.

The new campaign promises quite a few improvements from the first time around, including more detail and scientific accuracy. It introduces such creatures as a Dire Wolf, two new bird species, a primate, a pair of Grey wolf cuff links and, brace yourselves – a Velociraptor (that’s a pretty huge and spooky dinosaur). There is something to be said about rocking a mini, scientifically accurate replica of a Velociraptor’s skull around your neck, isn’t there?

It’s not just the new skulls that are a step up from the first campaign. The makers have stepped up their process with higher resolutions 3D scans, an updated 3D printer and an improved polishing technique to allow for the fine detail of animals’ teeth, horns and cranial structure to jump right out at you. If interested in one or more of these pieces, you can choose from solid white, yellow bronze or sterling silver for the finish and then, depending on the way in which you plan to enjoy it, you can choose a 24” chain or a lacquered wooden display stand.

While they’re beyond thrilled with their first Kickstarter project, which enabled them to open a successful online store, sell their skulls worldwide and source rare skulls from extinct animals, the guys from Fire & Bone are eager to accomplish much more. They would like to improve on every level but again, need some outside backing, hence the new campaign. If you’d like to see more 3D printed dinosaurs and other such fossil specimens in your collection, you may want to consider pitching in. May we suggest some life-like, Tyrannosaurus earrings for the ladies for Fire & Bone 3? Let’s hear your thoughts on these incredible 3D skulls, in the Fire & Bone forum thread on 3DPB.com.