This gets a 10 for creepy and a 10 for clever.
The creepy part
This is a 240 pencil set made from the carbon of a cremated human. Each pencil is foil stamped with the name of the deceased.
The clever part
Only one pencil can be removed at a time. You sharpen the pencil by putting it back in the box. The shavings then occupy the space of the used pencils. Over time the pencil box fills with sharpenings — turning the box into a new urn (it’s filled with the shavings which are made from the cremation).
Designed by Nadine Jarvis. Linked via Marc Ecko.
json
on 11 Nov 08Lol
alx
on 11 Nov 08thats gross
Braxo
on 11 Nov 08Not for people who chew on their pencils obviously.
Ali
on 11 Nov 08The shavings are not from the cremation.. the shavings is wood. The carbon center is from cremation
Scott
on 11 Nov 08Ok, yes, this is clever. It also falls into the category of “just because we can, doesn’t mean we should” category.
This is just wrong, on so many levels.
Scott Meinzer
on 11 Nov 08Where do I sign up?
I mean to buy it, not be killed and have people write with my ashes. :|
JD
on 11 Nov 08JF would so do this with JSJ.
Mimo
on 11 Nov 08Disgusting
Robert
on 11 Nov 08alright, hippies… time to put your money where your mouth is with this recycling hoopla.
Jay
on 12 Nov 08Reincarnated… as a pencil? Not for me – that’s for sure.
Luis
on 12 Nov 08Where do I sign up to become a pencil?
Luis II
on 12 Nov 08Would you say that the very act of them selling this makes them pencil pushers?
Rhiannon
on 12 Nov 08I think it’d be great where it’s apt. My boyfriend is an artist – his preferred medium is pencil. I’d do this in a heartbeat. It’d be a nice tribute. But since the carbon middle is what’s him and the wood around it isn’t, I doubt I’d actually use any of the pencils.
Though, I think I might be a little biased since I work at a crematory. :)
Arthur Ave
on 12 Nov 08I saw this on CSI!
someone
on 12 Nov 08Clever, tasteless, pointless.
p-daddy
on 12 Nov 08I’d like to pre-order one with my Boss’s ashes.
Do they have a “pencil-making” policy that allows this?
Robert
on 12 Nov 08When I die, I’d rather have my stomach acid be used to make a batter that powers some sex toy.
Kristine
on 12 Nov 08Some people have too much time on their hands. Who invented this?
Chris
on 12 Nov 08Can you get a set of different colours?
Andrew
on 12 Nov 08Sick.
Don Schenck
on 12 Nov 08Who is to say if this is write or wrong??
:)
bff
on 12 Nov 08want!
Aaron
on 12 Nov 08Robert, you win at the Internet.
theresa
on 12 Nov 08I’m a pencil artist by passion and a designer by trade. A co-worker forwarded this to me with saying its to be “my next pencil”... while I hope this is not in fact my NEXT pencil, I wouldn’t mind getting a set of pencils made from my ashes when I die. Since we don’t know where we go afterwards anyway, I wouldn’t mind being inside the pencil that helps create future pieces of art. :)
Visalia Wordsmith
on 12 Nov 08Ah, the endless (if sometimes unbridled) ingenuity of the species known as Homo Sapiens Sapiens! Perhaps it will help to defuse our societal aversion to our own personal end by demystifying death a little more.
Josh A.
on 12 Nov 08@Braxo LOL.
@Ali I really hope the pencils are just wood, but this seems to say otherwise:And, no, this isn’t sick. Everyone has experienced the grief of losing a family member/friend, we all know what it’s like, so we should all be able to lighten up a little. Personally, I don’t think it’s particularly pleasant, but it is clever, and Braxo’s comment was funny.
Tony Buser
on 12 Nov 08Soylent Pencil is people!
Ozyank
on 13 Nov 08Hmmm…my mother, who was 85 when she died back in August, would probably only be able to write about the trip she took to Mexico 25 years ago.
Grace
on 13 Nov 08I would ABSOLUTELY do this…I’m a writer, and if I ever happen to find myself a protege, I could give them these and have them write things.
A lovely way to be remembered, IMHO.
Don Schenck
on 13 Nov 08My wife told me she thinks this is a great idea.
She buys a stack of tablets and I’m gonna start watching my back.
Zach
on 13 Nov 08Found in the stationary section right next to the horsey-gluesticks.
Mel
on 13 Nov 08Agree with Scott.
Chan
on 13 Nov 08I do not wish to become a bunch on miniature golf pencils
Anne
on 13 Nov 08I actually really like that idea. I’d mostly wonder if one could write well with it.
There’s many ways of grieving—doesn’t all need to be the coffin-in-a-graveyard burial. (Besides this pencil idea, I’m quite fond of the older tradition of a burning boat.) While maybe I’d prefer myself to be donated to a few med students, this wouldn’t be all that bad either. As long as it’s donated to a really good artist or writer!!!
Rain
on 13 Nov 08I think a lot of whether or not I would want this done to me would revolve around a strong stipulation for the uses I would be put to.
Teresa
on 13 Nov 08@Anne My mother want to go out that way. I told her she better pay for archery lessons, since I wouldn’t want the flaming arrows to go awry. I think she saw First Knight one too many times.
I would make pencils from my cremains in a heartbeat. I’m all for being creative with my remains. Being buried is boring.
Aurora
on 13 Nov 08How can they prevent you from removing all the pencils at once and sharpening them in a normal sharpener?
tphd
on 13 Nov 08hottt pink, plz.
and use my nipples for erasers.
do it now.
Dweezie
on 14 Nov 08I now have a new post-humus goal. I used to want to be chucked whole into the Chesapeake Bay, but this is much more fitting. I really can’t think of a better way for my loved ones to honor my memory than by turning me into writing or art, both of which I will have spent my life loving.
LOL@tphd
M Fox
on 14 Nov 08I scored 1310 on my SATs back in the 80’s – maybe they could give future test takers my pencils for good luck! LOL!
An alternate idea, which is still carbon-based, is to have the ashes made into a gemstone.
alex
on 14 Nov 08all i can say is awesome
Sebhelyesfarku
on 15 Nov 08Where can I buy soaps?
Max
on 15 Nov 08Wow. Time to sign up as a pencil, might as well be useful after I died.
Claudieko
on 18 Nov 08Strangely awesome.
This discussion is closed.