Labubu Dolls Turn to Stone: Inside the UK’s Petrifying Well Phenomenon

The whimsical world of Labubu dolls—those “ugly-cute” monster toys beloved by celebrities and collectors—has collided with ancient geology in England’s Yorkshire. At Mother Shipton’s Cave, a centuries-old tourist attraction, these modern pop-culture icons are undergoing a startling transformation: petrification. Suspended above mineral-rich waters, Labubus dangle alongside teddy bears, slowly morphing from plush vinyl into stone relics. This surreal fusion of viral toys and natural magic has ignited social media frenzy, with TikTok users declaring, “People in the future are going to think we are so weird!

The Science Behind the Stone

Mother Shipton’s Cave houses England’s oldest recorded tourist attraction, famed for its petrifying well. Water saturated with dissolved minerals like calcite cascades over objects, encasing them in a stone shell within months. As explained by geologists from the University of Leeds (2023 study on mineral deposition), this process mimics fossilization. TikTok user @thesocialpuppet first documented the Labubu experiment in August 2025, showing the dolls strung above the well’s eerie waters. Mother Shipton’s official TikTok account (@mothershiptons) later confirmed: “Just give it a few months, and these little creatures won’t be looking so soft anymore.”

Pop Culture Meets Pagan Lore

Labubu’s journey from shelves to mineral baths mirrors its polarizing cultural resonance. Designed by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung, the dolls surged in popularity through celebrity endorsements and social media unboxing videos. Yet their lion-like faces and talons sparked online debates linking them to Pazuzu, a Mesopotamian demon. Some Christian TikTokers, like @jessicavibezx, destroyed their dolls as “demonic,” while others embraced their quirky charm. The petrification project adds a new layer—transforming fleeting trends into geological artifacts. As one viewer joked, “Someone’s gonna find that YEARS from now and think it’s some kinda deity.”

The internet’s absurdist humor meets nature’s alchemy at Mother Shipton’s—where today’s fads become tomorrow’s fossils. Witness this collision of pop culture and science firsthand by visiting the cave or following #PetrifiedLabubu. Stay curious, but remember: not every trend needs to be set in stone.

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Must Know

Q: What is a petrifying well?
A: Petrifying wells, like Mother Shipton’s in Yorkshire, feature mineral-rich water that deposits calcite on objects. Over months, this creates a stone exterior. The phenomenon is natural, not supernatural, as confirmed by the British Geological Survey (2024).

Q: Why are Labubu dolls controversial?
A: Some social media users associate Labubu’s design with Pazuzu, an ancient Mesopotamian demon. This sparked debates about cultural symbolism, leading to viral videos of dolls being discarded or destroyed.

Q: How long does Labubu petrification take?
A: Mother Shipton’s estimates 3–5 months for full petrification, depending on water flow and mineral concentration. Historic items like Victorian hats in the cave took similar timeframes.

Q: Can I visit the petrified Labubus?
A: Yes! Mother Shipton’s Cave (Knaresborough, UK) displays the dolls alongside other petrified objects. Check their website for visitor hours and Labubu petrification updates.

Q: Are Labubu dolls still popular?
A: Despite controversies, Labubu remains a collectible sensation. Collaborations with brands like Macaron and celebrity endorsements (Billie Eilish, 2024) sustain its “ugly-cute” appeal.

Q: Is petrification permanent?
A: Yes. Once mineralized, objects retain stony rigidity unless physically broken. Petrified Labubus will likely outlast their vinyl counterparts by millennia.