Gruesome, creepy or just plain odd...unearth some of the most peculiar objects on display around London.
There's some days when you wake up with an unusual spring in your step and think, “Today is THE day to go and see George III's hair and maybe even a death mask or two.” No? Well why not? Spoonfed wants to take you on an excavation around London to unearth some of the most peculiar objects on permanent display. This is your history lesson, house of horrors style, so sit up, pay attention and prepare to be intrigued and maybe a little disgusted...antique eyeball anyone?
Miniature Eye Portraits
These eyes are literally on you – painted eyes that is. Worn on the body as rings, bracelets and brooches. The disembodied eyes were worn by mourners, friends, family and secret lovers in the 17th and 18th centuries. Some are incredibly detailed as they were used to keep those absent from you present. Now they stare at you from beyond the grave. They can be seen in the Europe gallery at The British Museum, and they'll be seeing you too.
The oldest gynaecological papyrus
Um...so yeah...the idea of an ancient Egyptian gynaecological diagram sure is intriguing. And the Petrie Museum is the place to go for this kind of Egyptian and Sudanese archaeology. Exciting yes – but even more so when you find out that they offer you a torch to look round with, not because the museum is too dark, oh no...but because you're an archaeologist, sneaking around (for dramatic effect) and have just happened upon...the oldest gynaecological papyrus. Weird.
Napoleon's toothbrush
So there are some objects from history that you'd just never even imagine seeing – and we're sure Napoleon's toothbrush is one of them. With a silver-gilt handle and horse hair bristles it's one fancy personal cleaning implement. The Wellcome Collection revels in its vast array of strange medical and health objects in their permanent Medicine Man exhibition, but hang on, where do all the other famous toothbrushes go?
Invisible ink used by German spies
The Imperial War Museum's permanent Secret War exhibition includes some exciting espionage devices like codebooks, secret radios and an Enigma cipher machine – gadgets galore basically. Files on individual agents can even be accessed – can all the young men please try not to get too carried away...
Cow heart charm
A very emo cow's heart with pins and nails inserted into it from the 1800s. Used by a dairyman against a man he thought had put a curse on his cows. The Cuming Museum houses the Lovett Collection of Superstitions, which contains various lucky charms and talismans made for superstitious Londoners of the 19th century. Now time for some cow voodoo...
Doll with a leather face
Depending on whether you find dolls creepy or cute, most of these seemingly innocent beauties have the power to send shivers down your spine, especially with the knowledge that The Museum of Childhood has over 8000 in its collection. Reminiscent of those long-gone days of keeping one eye open on the menacing smile of your favourite toy at night.
If all that's not curious enough for you then why not take in The Hunterian Museum's preserved human remains, The Museum of London's skeleton of the oldest Londoner to be excavated, Freud's psychoanalytic couch at the Freud Museum and maybe even a 'unicorn' skull at Viktor Wynd's Little Shop of Horrors. Now all we need are some sinister laughing clowns...mwahahaha!
Image 1: Miniature Eye, The British Museum, London.
Image 2: Nelson's Toothbrush, Wellcome Library, London.
Image 3: Doll with leather face, Photograph by Craig Deane for Doll Face the forthcoming exhibition at The Museum of Childhood.
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