Jackson’s International Auctions had a listing for this rare 19th Century French automaton of a pig playing a harp.
This dapper swine music box moves his arms over the harp strings via a clockwork key windup.
He stands just over thirteen inches tall and sold for $2,160.00.
See the listing here.
Anya Boz has a series of faux taxidermy creations she calls Room Guardians,” and my very favorite one is the Persian cat. This is the kind of room guardian I would want…one that seems to snarkily quip “REALLY? You actually think you’re coming in here without permission?”
It’s posable, so you can arrange it in any number of positions to express its reaction to the unmitigated gall of others.
UNMITIGATED GALL, I tell you!
What is this cat saying to you?
If you couldn’t tell, I’m not really a Hallmark card and Whitman’s chocolate sampler kind of girl on Valentine’s Day. A specimen sampler on the other hand…now that’s romantic!
This is a set of 5 genuine hearts, injected with red and blue resin. It includes 1. Fish, 2. Frog, 3. Snake, 4. Pigeon, 5. Rabbit and comes with a numbered key chart. Measures 6 1/2″ x 3″.
I maintain my extreme discomfort with specimens for which the creature was killed merely for the sake of display, and I haven’t asked the company how these hearts are sourced. But they are rather incredible to look at.
I haven’t seen too many new items that catch my fancy to post (hence the lack of “Valentine countdowns”). If you find anything amazing, please share!
Loved to Death: Comparative Hearts in Lucite
PS. For a limited time, I’ll be including the link to the page about my medical situation at the bottom of each post. We’re getting there!
Yesterday I received an email bursting with bat embryos (which sounds like cyberbullying, but is actually what people do when they love me). The message prompted me to seek out some of the most beautiful specimens on the Web.
While ostensibly a rather morbid search entry, these images (particularly the diaphonized variety) allow us to see the awe inspiring artistry of nature. Even the tiny creatures so often reviled by humans are majestic in their own way.
And adorable. They’re also adorable.
See no evil…hear no evil…
Thanks for the inspiration, CP!
Hypnokitty says…you will read the entirety of this post…
I’m not sure if this was a recurring character or a one time thing, but it’s very unusual art for a motor oil ad.
The bow really makes this.
I love this kid.
I previously considered my own cats to be pretty well prepared, but I was quite mistaken.
The most projectile vomit I’ve ever seen in an antique colorized photo.
It’s funny…because it’s true.
I’m surprised this never happened to me when I was deep in my heavy metal phase.
Nature is incredible.
Ian Anderson paints fine art pieces that highlight oppositional environmental forces.
We see the struggle and contrast within nature, of ideology and technology, in depicted in striking detail.
Read an interview with him over at Redefine.
I don’t understand a word of the text, but I just browsed the entire collection of handmade creature bags by Atelier Iwakiri.
Such excellent attention to detail on scales, shells and skins!
These could be wonderful conversation pieces for the shy and/or introverted to carry around (yes, my mind went there because I am terrible at initiating conversation with strangers. But once I begin talking, I’m fine).
I love when readers/fellow bloggers share their own creations with me! Halloween decorations can all start to look the same after a while. The lovely Jori of Shivers of Delight decided to change it up and craft this “Gentleman Crow” to grace her front porch this year.
You can see some in-progress shots and read more about it HERE! You’ll find lots of other spooky goodness on the site as well.
Are you doing any unique decorations?
My darling little kittens (who have not even left the top floor of my house yet), got fleas from a visiting family member’s outdoor cat, and it’s been impossible to get rid of them despite the most exhaustive efforts.
So we have to call in professionals today. While they work, feast your eyes on some vintage flea circus images (if ONLY these little buggers could be even mildly entertaining in this house…instead of the pestilent spawn of Hell they’ve proven to be).
Ravendark Creations is the work of Arend Smith. Here you will find amazing one of a kind, quirky creations such as:
Cyclops Squirrel
Saber Snails! These may be my favorite.
Voodoo Puppet
Carnivorous Plants
The Cheshire Cat (I think this is a model kit design, actually. I’d love to make this!)
Most sculptures are polyclay (often inspired by his wife’s art!), but some are available as resin kits so you can bring these fine creatures into your own home and take part in the creation process.
SheWalksSoftly 