Skeleton Couple Figurine with Sculpted Roses, 8.2 in

Roses are what keep this from reading as a Halloween prop. The bones are carved with the seams and the cracked plates of a real skull, and then a run of sculpted roses climbs the ribs and across one shoulder, which pulls the whole thing toward gothic romance and away from the plastic skeleton aisle. Two skeletons, one leaning into the other, 8.2 in (21 cm) tall.

• 8.2 in (21 cm) tall, 7.5 in (19 cm) wide
• Hand painted resin, about 1.3 lb (600 g)
• Two poses: holding hands, or one arm across the shoulders
• Bone white with red roses, or antique gold with golden roses
• Flat bottom, sits on a shelf without a stand

Size

At 7.5 in (19 cm) across it is nearly as wide as it is tall, which is the measurement people get wrong. It needs a clear run of shelf beside it, not headroom above it, and 1.3 lb (600 g) means it stays where a cat puts a paw on it.

Finishes

Bone white gives you red roses against ivory, and the color does the separating for you from across a room. Antique gold puts the roses in the same tone as the bones, so the piece reads as one sculpted mass and you only see the flowers when light rakes across it. Pick white for contrast, gold for texture.

Care

Dust it with a soft brush, the sort used for makeup, and work between the ribs where a cloth cannot reach. Keep it out of a sunny window: painted resin in a south facing spot fades the red roses first and leaves the bones looking chalky.

Good to know

Deep carving collects dust, and this piece is nothing but deep carving. Bone white shows it within a fortnight on an open shelf, gold hides it longer. Behind glass in a cabinet, either one stays clean for months and you will dust it twice a year.