Authentic Louisiana Alligator Scutes & Backbone Bones | Natural Curiosity Specimens
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$10.00
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Authentic Louisiana Alligator Scutes & Backbone Bones | Natural Curiosity Specimens
A carefully chosen piece from the cupboard.
$10.00
Ships with care from Pittsburgh ✨
Each item inside Mrs. Bones Curio Cupboard is selected with intention—never ordinary, never without a story.
Some are handcrafted. Some are discovered. All are chosen to bring a little intrigue, beauty, or curiosity into your world.
Authentic Louisiana Alligator Scutes & Backbone Bones
Bring a genuine piece of the Louisiana bayou into your curiosity collection. These real alligator scutes and backbone pieces come from wild-caught alligators from the swamps of southern Louisiana, including the Bayou Lafourche area. According to the supplier, the alligators enter Louisiana's leather and meat industry, with the skulls and bones retained rather than discarded.
The supplier describes a fascinating multi-year preparation process in which the bones are placed in ant piles near the canals for several years, a process they refer to as becoming “fossilized.” After this natural aging and cleaning period, the specimens are further cleaned and sterilized by boiling with dish detergent to remove remaining tissue and debris, followed by additional treatment with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. A higher-concentration hydrogen peroxide hair developer is then applied and the specimens are left in the sun overnight to whiten.
Each finished piece retains the natural texture, shape, coloration, and character of genuine alligator bone, making every specimen unique.
Perfect for curiosity cabinets, oddities displays, educational collections, assemblage art, specimen displays, or anyone who appreciates the beautifully strange.
Details
- Genuine Louisiana alligator bone/scute
- Wild-caught Louisiana alligator
- Byproduct of the meat and leather industry
- Cleaned and prepared by the supplier
- Available in multiple sizes
- Each piece is naturally unique; shape, coloration, texture, and dimensions will vary
- Sold individually
Explore the Story Behind Louisiana Alligator Curiosities
These unusual pieces are more than curiosities—they’re part of a much larger Louisiana story. The Mrs. Bones Research Library explores the American alligator’s remarkable conservation recovery, Louisiana’s regulated harvest and farming programs, the use of natural specimens, and the history and material culture surrounding the Louisiana alligator trade.
Read: Louisiana Alligator Curiosities | Mrs. Bones Research Library
Perfect for gifting, collecting, or keeping something a little unexpected for yourself.
Availability:
Some pieces are one-of-a-kind or limited in quantity. Once they’re gone, they may not return.
✔ Available online
✔ Carefully packed and shipped
✔ From our Pittsburgh-based curio space
Every piece you find here has a story behind it.
Not everything here is meant for everyone.
Curated, Not Mass Made
Each item is chosen for its story, character, and charm—not to fill a shelf. Every piece arrives with intention, never by accident.
Always Changing
The cupboard evolves constantly. What’s here today may be gone tomorrow, so every visit is a little adventure—discover something unexpected each time.
Packed With Care
Every order is thoughtfully prepared and shipped from our Pittsburgh-based curio space, ensuring your treasures arrive safely and ready to delight.
