How I wish I could visit the Science Museum of London to see these incredible wax anatomical figures, originally created circa 1810-1830.
Archive for oddities
19th Century Wax Anatomical “Half and Half” Models
Posted in anatomy, antiques, destinations, exhibits, medicine, museums, oddities, science, sculpture with tags anatomy, antiques, destinations, exhibits, medicine, museums, oddities, science, sculpture on September 19, 2012 by shewalkssoftlyDesktop Goodies 7/28
Posted in absurd, advertising, anatomy, art, Books, comics, film, food, humor, japan, kitsch, medicine, oddities, postcards, vintage with tags absurd, advertising, anatomy, art, Books, comics, flim, food, humor, japan, kitsch, medicine, oddities, postcards, sci-fi, vintage on July 28, 2012 by shewalkssoftlyIt looks like I was featured on Freshly Pressed, which has brought some new readers to this blog. If you’re new here…welcome! Please relax and stay a while…like this guy (by Michael Pratt):
Let me entertain you…
The cat does not appear to find this hairstyle flattering.
If swimsuits covered 99% of the body with the finest layered long sleeves and trousers…I’d be more like to wear one in public.
By comparison, this classic striped number looks positively scandalous.
Sea Lions…with human brains.
Violent beatings are always a great way to sell a product.
Few things go together like guns and Christianity…
…or kids and cigarettes.
…or booze and mornings.
Head of marketing campaign: “Don’t you see? We’re not selling a product, we’re selling a lifestyle!“
Let’s look at happy things now, shall we? Like this laxative-dosed child.
I SAID…be happy!
Something tells me the gelatinous fish pie is not going to be the kiddie crowd pleaser this ad implies.
Yes. This is exactly what they do. This…and drool on things.
It’s what all the hipsters are using:
The “Health Belt” does absolute wonders…if you’re a man who happens to be sketched on paper.
What happens when there’s a fight on family portrait day in 1858.
Crazy Cat Lady dreams…
My thoughts originate from a 2″ X 2″ square of brain perpendicular to my eyeballs, in the very center of my forehead.
And if you want to know the depths of a woman’s thoughts, look no further than this handy diagram.
…Well then the whole trip is ruined:
This is a deeply profound message. See it. Feel it. Know it.
Amazing.
Double amazing.
May you all have a knockout day.
Desktop Goodies 6/19
Posted in absurd, Books, comics, home, kitsch, monsters, oddities, photography, robots, vintage, wedding with tags absurd, art, Books, comics, home, humor, kitsch, monsters, oddities, photography, robots, vintage, wedding on June 19, 2012 by shewalkssoftlyGalenaLarkin created this fabulous alien in the style of Lisa Frank (boy, that brings me back!).
How about some valuable instruction from yesteryear?
I have a feeling even if I read this book, it wouldn’t work.
Oh, this is dangerous territory.
And speaking of…
Let’s start with the myriad pathologies of the cover model.
Love this.
…and this.
So THIS is how wives are made!
Speaking of, if I ever get married, forget those cheesy “Bride” T-shirts girls wear at wedding showers (etc.), I want THIS shirt (ironically, this level of geekiness probably diminishes my chances of “pair bonding” in the first place).
And if marriages don’t work, there’s always this guy.
Let’s get our Jesus on, folks! No…I meant literally.
Failed sales pitch for DoubleMint Gum:
All I have to say to this sculpture: get out of my dreams, get into my house!
So let’s look at other lovely home goods (I wish I had more info here). Nice little accent piece:
For the china cabinet:
While an amazing illusion, I suspect this wall decal could be mildly terrifying to some children:
Outdoor trimmings for my fellow introverts:
Why wasn’t this mass produced?
Does anyone have info on this piece? I find it fascinating that conjoined ceramics exist.
More soon…and remember:
100 Year Old Cake
Posted in absurd, antiques, food, oddities with tags absurd, antiques, food, oddities on December 30, 2011 by shewalkssoftlyHere’s an oddity that’s right up my alley. A Christmas spice cake baked in 1911 was found in an abandoned closet, and now resides in Golden Valley, MN, with its current owner Pierre Girard.
The cake carried an inscription on the bottom that said “Xmas Cake Baked in Year 1911 by my Mother’s Brother Alex died December 27. Was operated on Xmas Day.”
Though petrified, the cake still carries the mild scent of cinnamon and spices.
It filled me with joy to learn that Pierre recently threw a party FOR the cake, rather than having cake at a party. Excellent move!
Desktop Goodies 12/13
Posted in absurd, advertising, art, comics, food, humor, inspiration, meat, medicine, oddities, photography, TV, vintage with tags absurd, advertising, antiques, art, comics, food, humor, inspiration, meat, medicine, oddities, photography, robots, TV, vintage on December 13, 2011 by shewalkssoftlySoon I will post some holiday goodies, but let’s see what non-celebratory things we have lurking on the desktop today…
To whet your appetite, we’ll begin with this stunning scene (about which I will refrain from commenting):
And for dessert: VITAMIN DONUTS. I believe this was once an actual product.
You can wash those donuts down with a glass of Pilk. It’s deloinkful. (This comes from the parody program “Look Around You”…which is wonderful)
And while we’re on the topic of programs (I wonder if I’ll have to deal with this in my practice someday)…
Does anyone know where this comes from? I can’t place it.
Ooh…getting ideas for future projects from this 17th century secret poison case…
Perhaps I should procure some Pink Pills for Pale People.
Kind of wish I were made of cogs, gears and wires…
Someone’s documented my party habits (except I probably wouldn’t even be drunk):
This post brought to you by Mr. Mandrake Root (wish I could remember where I got this from):
Mechanical Advertising Novelties, 1911
Posted in advertising, antiques, automata, oddities, vintage with tags advertising, antiques, automata, oddities, vintage print on November 12, 2011 by shewalkssoftlyScientific American has a nice little slide show of early 20th century novelty designs.
Strange automatons, mind tricks and whimsical inventions…
See the rest here.
Halloween Countdown: Snappy the Halloween Crocodile
Posted in absurd, creatures, halloween, oddities, paper with tags absurd, creatures, halloween, nature, oddities on October 4, 2011 by shewalkssoftlyTalk about getting into the spirit! Snappy, in a territorial moment, attacked the water filter in his enclosure at the reptile park. Soon after, he turned orange, which has thus far been attributed to to algae or tannins in the water.
I think Snappy knew exactly what he was doing.
Desktop Goodies 9/29
Posted in absurd, anatomy, craft, ephemera, food, home, humor, kitsch, meat, oddities, photography, sea, thrift horror, vintage with tags absurd, anatomy, craft, ephemera, food, home, humor, kitsch, meat, oddities, photography, sea, thrift horror, vintage, vintage print on September 29, 2011 by shewalkssoftlyQuite an interesting articulation…
Couldn’t help but laugh at this:
Aww…it wouldn’t surprise me if someone started selling soaps on Etsy designed to look like these (there has been a surprising amount of fetus soap…why not put a sea life spin on it?).
A vintage depiction of an onion bringing HERSELF to tears. How meta.
Yes, it’s a claw…but doesn’t it look like an alien head?
So much pink…so much…meat. Valiant effort on the part of the meat roller.
The logical dessert spread after a setup like the above would clearly come from this book:
I’ve seen some bad wax figures, but Wax Jesus is looking a little rough.
I suppose it could be worse…these things could be happening.
Ha! No idea where this comes from, but it’s entertaining.
Here, have some emotions:
And now for your daily dose of confusion:
Desktop Goodies 8/15
Posted in absurd, Books, comics, creatures, decay, ephemera, meat, oddities, photography, retro, sea, street art, taxidermy, vintage with tags absurd, Books, comics, creatures, decay, ephemera, humor, meat, oddities, photography, retro, sea, street art, taxidermy, vintage on August 15, 2011 by shewalkssoftlyLet’s begin this post with a luminous sunrise over the rolling hills of a meatscape…
As you may know by now, I love photos of glistening industrial structures.
Nature is amazing.
Two bits of street art that really grabbed my attention recently:
Excellent display.
He’s late for a very important date, indeed…
No idea:
Had this mode of transportation been available to me, I might have attempted to attend Sunday school…once.
I know nothing about the origin of this illustration, save for the title: “Experiment With a Unicorn Horn.”
Arguably the world’s most useful superpower:
I wonder if there’s a number around which the subject matter starts to get a bit tired (101? Really? It’s almost impressive).
Ooh…the candle makes it fancy.
A beautiful clock (it sings!) for the minimalist:
Where is this an actual problem?
I’ve saved the best for last. Here’s a great wedding greeting to send all your newlywed friends. Feel free to post your interpretations in the comments.
Clockwork Prayer: Mechanical Monk, Cira 1560
Posted in antiques, automata, oddities with tags antiques, automata, oddities on July 14, 2011 by shewalkssoftlySince I saw this on Boing Boing, I’m sure it’s already gotten quite a bit of buzz. But I can’t deny you guys a 16th Century mechanical monk if you haven’t seen him yet.
In the Smithsonian Institution is a sixteenth-century automaton of a monk, made of wood and iron, 15 inches in height. Driven by a key-wound spring, the monk walks in a square, striking his chest with his right arm, raising and lowering a small wooden cross and rosary in his left hand, turning and nodding his head, rolling his eyes, and mouthing silent obsequies. From time to time, he brings the cross to his lips and kisses it. After over 400 years, he remains in good working order.
Watch it in action:
And read a bit more about this lovely oddity on The Blackbird Archive.
