French design company Harow has released a 24-carat-gold edition of its skull-shaped armchair (+ slideshow).

The seat has a multi-faceted back designed to resemble an oversized skull and rests on two ornate front legs.

The upper teeth form the base of the chair, which is described as being "built for comfort and world domination" by Harow. Ornamental flourishes decorate the forehead and nose of the face, contrasting its otherwise geometric appearance.

Harow's armchair, which carries a $500,000 (£347,000) price tag, is constructed from reinforced fibreglass with a steel internal frame, and is completely handmade in Paris. The seat is upholstered in black velvet, which was chosen to contrast with the surrounding 24-carat-gold plating.

"The unique gold edition is the first-ever chair designed and handcrafted like a faceted diamond," said Harow, which has also released stools that resemble giant faces.

"Somewhere between sculptural art and functional furniture, the Skull Armchair is as comfortable as it is a spectacle to be admired," it added.

Improvements in metal-coating technology have resulted in similar updates to a variety of chair designs. Mid-century furniture pieces by designers including Warren Platner, Harry Bertoia and Arne Jacobsen all received a gold makeover from American furniture company Knoll last year.

Other skull-shaped chairs include Fabio Novembre's Jolly Roger seat for Italian brand Gufram, and French studio Fool's plastic chairs with cut-out sections that resemble eye and nasal cavities.

Dezeen has also featured a skeletal design by Luke Twigger, who created a set of ceramic skull containers that included green cushions for brains.

Bones are a continual source of reference for designers. Joris Laarman's marble and porcelain chair is based on the way bones grow, and Studio Job's skeleton-covered tiles created for Italian brand Bisazza.