Archive for the oddities Category

Dr. Mutter’s Marvels

Posted in Books, macabre, medicine, oddities, wish list with tags , , , , on December 10, 2015 by shewalkssoftly

If you’re looking for a holiday gift for lovers of oddities and medical marvels, Dr. Mutter’s Marvels might be perfect.

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The book is a mesmerizing biography of the brilliant and eccentric medical innovator who revolutionized American surgery and founded the country’s most famous museum of medical oddities.

Even having been to the museum a few times (it’s an incredible place), I still don’t know very much about Dr. Mutter himself. I’d definitely like to read this. Have you been to the museum? Read this book?

Dr. Mutter’s Marvels

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Museum Oddities

Posted in antiques, craft, oddities, sculpture, skulls and skeletons with tags , , , , , on November 14, 2015 by shewalkssoftly

I first posted about “exploded” articulated human skulls years ago during Ryan Matthew theme week, but here is another fine example from Brian Kubasco (aka Museum Oddities).

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Kubasco is a sculptor specializing in masks, props, reproductions, prosthetics, character design, creatures, monsters and figurines. His website is a combination of personal creations and intriguing artifacts.

For example, here is a 1930’s dental phantom with five gold fillings and removable teeth.

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And here is a creative variation inspired by these models:
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There is some really great stuff on the site. Have a look at Museum Oddities.

Lucrezia Borgia’s Hair Reliquary

Posted in antiques, oddities with tags , on August 16, 2015 by shewalkssoftly

I can’t find any lengthy articles about this particular piece, but here we have a reliquary of Lucrezia Borgia’s hair, created in the 1920’s.

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It’s a pretty fantastic piece (which reminds me of today’s steampunk sculptures…but clearly precedes them by many decades). She’s got quite a lovely natural hair color. Most women need to get that out of a bottle.

It’s worth reading the bio, as Lucrezia Borgia is shrouded in all manner of scandalous allegations.

Desktop Goodies 7/10

Posted in absurd, advertising, art, Books, cats, horror, humor, japan, kitsch, monsters, oddities, photography, satire, undead, vintage with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 10, 2015 by shewalkssoftly

Apologies for skipping a couple days this week, but between huge health setbacks and mold remediation in the SWS house, things are a bit hectic.

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What happened on this beach to necessitate a sign like this (well, I guess that’s self-explanatory).
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What question did someone ask him to warrant this answer? Ideas?
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I’m assuming this is a gag product (the source where I found it said it’s unironic, which was perhaps more entertaining than the ad itself).
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Facing the shadow…
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I had to look up where this fellow came from. Now I must see Ultraman Tarou. Has anyone seen it?
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Well, that’s supportive.
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Careful, parents, it could happen to you.
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Answer: don’t.
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Now THIS cat is a work of art.
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“Hey, you’ll never believe where I’m calling from.”
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200 Year Old Mummy “Still Alive”

Posted in oddities, undead with tags , on June 12, 2015 by shewalkssoftly

I rarely post so many excerpts from an article, but this is just too great.

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Scientists in Mongolia are examining a 200-year mummified monk who some Buddhists believe is still alive because he is in a deep meditative trance.

Gankhüügiin Pürevbat, the founder of the Mongolian Institute of Buddhist Art at Ulan Bator Buddhist University, told the Siberian Times, a news website: “The lama is sitting in the lotus position vajra, the left hand is opened, and the right hand symbolises of the preaching Sutra.

“This is a sign that the lama is not dead, but is in a very deep meditation according to the ancient tradition of Buddhist lamas”. Some experts on Buddhism said the monk could be in “tukdam”, a kind of deep meditative state that crosses over between life and death.

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Dr Barry Kerzin, a monk and a physician to the Dalai Lama, told the website: “If the person is able to remain in this state for more than three weeks – which rarely happens – his body gradually shrinks, and in the end all that remains from the person is his hair, nails, and clothes.”

Local media said a 45-old-man had been arrested because the monk’s body had been stolen from a cave with the intention of selling it off. It was unclear in what circumstances it was originally found.

The mummified monk is generally thought to have died in the 19th century. His identity is unknown.

Oddities Store

Posted in antiques, creatures, medicine, oddities, taxidermy, vintage with tags , , , , , on February 18, 2015 by shewalkssoftly

If it has “oddities” in the title, there’s a good chance I’ll go down a massive rabbit hole exploring it. Thus, Oddities Store was an enjoyable find indeed.

I desperately need these:
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They have bisected animals…
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Bell jar skulls of all sorts…
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Fish sticks (literally):
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Diaphonized beauties:
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Skulls on plaques:
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Lovely shadow boxes:
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And…Lung Salve!
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Browse the rest of the collections at the Oddities Store.

Desktop Goodies: 2/4

Posted in 80's, absurd, advertising, anatomy, anthropomorphic, art, Books, humor, medicine, oddities, robots, sea, skulls and skeletons, taxidermy, vintage with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 4, 2015 by shewalkssoftly

You’re being welcomed into this post by anthropomorphic hotdog with breasts.
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As far as I can tell, this is a real vintage ad. Probably one of the most jaw-dropping examples I’ve seen.
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Imagine this is what you’re really standing on.
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I prefer my tables without testicles.
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Don’t miss the other title by this author on the bottom.
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For “elegant women of refinement and taste.”
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Just your average note-wielding mouse on a lobster.
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I’m not sure what’s going on here. Is this a medical assistance device? Unless it’s equipped with some sort of pulley mechanism to lift bodies in need, I see very little purpose for lying on something LESS comfortable, a few inches above something designed for lying on.
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And now, in today’s installment of unappealing instructional material…Meet the man who can tell you how to lick pimples.
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Haunted…
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In conclusion, cats are the cure for everything.
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A Fish With an Accordion

Posted in absurd, art, oddities, vintage with tags , , , , on January 27, 2015 by shewalkssoftly

Today…a fish with an accordion. And a lotus flower. Very little information surrounds this mysterious vintage gem…but it deserves its own post.

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So there you have it.

House of Collection

Posted in decoration, home, inspiration, oddities, vintage with tags , , , , on November 11, 2014 by shewalkssoftly

I’ve found a new source of home inspiration (well, it’s not exactly new since this has been sitting in my queue for years, but it WAS new inspiration when I first saw it).

Paige Stevenson and Ahnika Meyer have transformed their Brooklyn loft into a veritable museum of lost, discarded, forgotten wonders.

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I love living spaces that are thick with history and storied fragments of days gone by. Their place is a gorgeous showcase, largely due how they choose to display these “mundane” items. There is a perfect contrast of still life and lush plant growth.
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See a writeup on these wonderfully unique individuals and their home in the New York Times.

La Popular’s “Corpse Bride”

Posted in death, macabre, oddities, wedding with tags , , , on July 17, 2014 by shewalkssoftly

I am basically going to reblog this morbid legend, because the source sites all the bizarre details quite well.

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For the past 75 years, a tiny bridal shop in Mexico has been the subject of some pretty crazy rumors. Tales of supernatural fiddling abound, with whispers of disembodied voices, mysterious cold spots, and even the occasional darting shadow seen from the corner of a visitor’s eye. But the creepiest rumor centers around a bridal mannequin sitting in the window; a highly detailed dummy that many say is a perfectly preserved corpse.

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The tale begins on March 25th in 1930, when the odd-looking mannequin was first placed in the windows of La Popular, one of the most well-known bridal shops in Chihauhau, Mexico. Almost immediately, the locals knew that something just wasn’t quite right with the figure. Before long, tales of the stunning mannequin began to spread far and wide, and visitors trekked from all over just to see the intricate details in the doll. From the individual wrinkles in the hands, to the real human hair, to the mesermizing gaze of her glass eyes, it was almost as if the figure was a real person frozen in time.

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Eventually, people began to notice the similaries between the mannequin, nicknamed La Pascualita, and the daughter of La Popular’s proprietor, Pascuala Esparza. According to legend, Esparza’s daughter had tragically passed away on her wedding day, victim of a Black Widow spider bite. Locals whispered that the beautiful figure in the window was, in fact, the embalmed body of Esparza’s daughter. More and more, the details began to make sense, and the townspeople became outraged. Of course, Pascuala Esparza formally denied the allegations, but by that point, it was too late – the legend was set in stone.

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75 years later, some have come to revere La Pascualita as a saint, leaving candles and offering prayers in front of the window. Some ask for good fortune, but most come to her seeking guidance in matters of love. Many brides even let Pascualita decide on their gowns for them, simply choosing whatever dress she’s wearing at the time they visit.

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So, is the strange mannequin really the preserved corpse of an ill-fated bride? Skeptics say no, pointing to the difficult upkeep when it comes to stopping a corpse from decaying, but those who have seen La Pascualita in person walk away believers… and very creeped out believers at that. After all, how strange is it for a store to keep the same mannequin for nearly eight decades, and shroud its undressing in secrecy?

What do you all think? The hands are indeed rather corpse-like, and graced with far more textured skin than any mannequin I’ve seen in the world. But…I’m not sure what methods could keep ANY flesh on a corpse over 80 years after the date of death.

Source
(Thanks to Steph for the link!)