
"When the renowned Japanese sculptor Hananuma Masakichi learned that he was dying of tuberculosis, he vowed to leave behind a life-like portrait of himself for his beloved. He carved his likeness out of wood while studying himself with an adjustable mirror. The hair, fingernails, teeth, and toenails of the sculpture were all pulled from his own body. From the caption to the above postcard:"
From Proceedings of the Athanasius Kircher Society
http://www.kirchersociety.org/blog/?p=624