Conifer — Needle Cluster Study (Specimen No. 003) skull Outer surface folded and collapsed

Outer surface folded and collapsed inward at multiple points

but with a patience older than time — a hoard of secrets wrapped in iron and earth

Lobes curl at different rates

The centre settles at the throat

A step back here

Conifer — Needle Cluster Study (Specimen No. 003) skull Outer surface folded and collapsedCollected during the colder stretch of the year. Growth appears unaffected by surrounding dormancy; needles remain firm, evenly spaced along the stem. Drying produces minimal distortion. Slight contraction observed, primarily along the needle edges. Structure holds. No collapse. Copper adheres first to the outermost points, then gathers along the stem. The existing arrangement dictates the final form. No correction required. Variation between