Up Close & Peculiar With a Living Doll

Would you rip off your own fingernails for the sake of art?

At Ripley's Believe It or Not! in Gatlinburg , one jaw-dropping exhibit dares to ask that very question. Meet the life-sized Japanese living doll that contains actual human fingernails, hair—and even teeth—belonging to its creator. This eerie masterpiece is more than just a sculpture... it's a self-portrait.

Japan’s Uncanny “Living Dolls”

Originating in the 1800s, the Japanese art of Iki-ningyo, which translates to “living doll,” pushed the boundaries of lifelike sculpture. These hyperrealistic figures were crafted to be so realistic that they often fooled people into thinking they were alive.

Used for public exhibitions and even as on-stage stand-ins for actors, these dolls weren’t just art—they were performance pieces in their own right. Viewers would often find themselves staring, waiting for the sculptures to breathe.

Carved with Care

Creating a convincing Iki-ningyo took intense dedication. Artists layered paint to simulate real skin tones, carved fine details like veins and muscles, and sometimes used parts of their own bodies, like hair, to make their work as human as possible.

One such artist, Ito Hamashi, took this devotion to the extreme.

A Self-Portrait

The statue on display in Gatlinburg is a life-sized self-portrait made by Hamashi himself. Using over 2,000 pieces of wood, he stood in front of adjustable mirrors to meticulously carve a mirror image of his own body.

But what really sets this statue apart? Hamashi used his own fingernails, hair, and teeth in its construction.

This wasn’t just a sculpture. It was a personal sacrifice in the name of art.

Do YOU want to get Up Close with this creepy creation? Visit Ripley’s Believe It or Not! in Gatlinburg, Tennessee!