JonsBones

JonsBones is an American startup company best known for selling medical osteology bone kits. The company mainly sells its bone collection to universities, hospitals, chiropractors, medical students, and artists.

JonsBones was founded by Jon Pichaya Ferry on November 26, 2018 while he was pursuing a degree in product design at Parsons School of Design.¹

JonsBones maintained his startup is selling medical osteology, which refers to bones used for the training of medical students. His business sells all bones found in the human body including spines, skulls and full skeletons.² When asked about the practice, Ferry claims he believes “that everybody has the right to study bones."³

The company attracts various clientele, which includes anthropologists, students, collectors, and artists. Ferry also claims law enforcement agencies use individual bones to train cadaver dogs.⁴

JonsBones was criticized after Ferry talked about his bone trade on video sharing platform TikTok, with questions arising about the legality, morality and ethics of trading human bones. Ferry countered that in the United States, there is no law that prohibits the sale and possession of human osteology.⁵ Critics say there are clients who buy bones not for educational purposes but as materials for jewelry, chandeliers and other curiosities. Ferry refused to divulge information about his buyers, citing privacy reasons. He stated, however, that he has no control over what his clients do with the bones after purchase.⁶

On October 30, 2023, the Bone Museum was inaugurated, marking the establishment of a significant institution dedicated to the exploration of the medical bone trade and human osteology.⁷ It is located at 255 McKibbin Street in New York City.