The Cabinet of Curiosities

Cabinet of Curiosities Links

Cabinet of Wonders

Bringing the Early Age of Enlightenment to the modern world.

Wunderkammer

Australian Wunderkammer

Oddities of Nature

Strange Occurances in Nature

The Human Marvels: Vindicating those once labeled as freaks.

The Human Marvels is dedicated to vindicating those people who were once labeled as freaks and human oddities.

Joseph Merrick - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Joseph Carey Merrick (August 5, 1862 ? April 11, 1890), known as "The Elephant Man" gained the sympathy of Victorian era Britain because of the extreme malformity of his body. Due to a mistake in Sir Frederick Treves' book The Elephant Man and Other Reminiscences (1923), Merrick is sometimes known as John Merrick.

Pickled punks - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pickled punks is the carny term for human fetuses preserved in jars of formaldehyde and used as sideshow attractions. Most pickled punks display some sort of anatomical abnormality, such as conjoined twins or polycephaly; however, the deformities present are as varied as the nature of human inflictions. Faked pickled punks, made from rubber or wax, are known as "bouncers" for their tendency to bounce when dropped on the floor.

Natural Specimens

Resources on collecting or buying fossils, minerals, and plants.

Collecting Fossils

Everything you need to know about collecting fossils including what you were afraid to ask

Everything Fossils...Fossil Information for Education, Collecting and Fun!

An educational resource providing information on fossils, geologic history and earth science. Topics include fossil formation, geologic time, earth science lesson plans, and activities for kids.

Fossil Collecting

Believe it or not, there are probably fossils to be collected within a few miles from where you are right now! The best way to find these localities is to join a fossil club. Most clubs cost only a few dollars to join, or are free, and give back much in return. In a fossil club, you'll get to attend informative meetings on fossils in your area and beyond, meet knowledgeable collectors, and even take field trips to dig fossils you may keep for your own private collection!

Minerals and Mineral Collecting -- MineralCollecting.org

Informational non-commercial site about minerals and mineral collecting. Offers images, articles, literature, exchanges, forums, directories, message board.

Expert Secrets for Preserving Plants

The museum of natural history nearest you probably harbors an impressive collection of local plant life. To aid budding botanists, I thought I'd share some museum tips for specimen preservation. You can use these techniques to help add to the official record or simply to engage your family in a rewarding outdoor adventure.

COLLECTING INSECTS

Where and How to Collect Insects

Identifying Unknown Fossils (by their shape). Kentucky Geological Survey

Identifying Unknown Fossils (by their shape) Fossils of Kentucky, Kentucky Geological Survey

Handmade Specimens

Links to Projects for Creating your own Cabinet Creations

Wunderkammer

A Handmade Cabinet of Curiosity. Various crochet and embroidery projects for creating your own Cabinet of Curiosities.

Giant Squid kinetic sculpture from found materials - Instructables - DIY, How To, art, craft

This sculpture grew out of a long time fascination with the Giant Squid. My name being Nemo has meant a lifetime of "Captain Nemo" referenc...

Taxidermy Skull Preparation - Instructables - DIY, How To, art, craft

Learn how to clean and prepare animal skulls for display or study. WARNING: Veiwer disgreshion advised. Includes photos of raw skulls. Not for those w...

Thing in a Jar

An abstract sculpture of a thing in a jar, by Drew Olbrich

Lion Brand Hyperbolic Crochet Motifs

Create your own coral reef design of fantastical shells and fantastical creatures using hyperbolic planes.

Furry Lobster Plushie

Inspired by the recently reported kiwa hirsuta lobster, I designed a plush toy. Although she's not anatomically correct in every detail (PDF), I think she is an identifiable member of this new species.

Crochet fetus

Some of you asked for a pattern for the amigurumi "fetus" I posted several days back, and I don't quite have a pattern for you, but I have some instructions to help you with amigurumi.

Mouse Taxidermy - Instructables - DIY, How To, art

How to stuff a mouse. Warning: an extremely graphic tutorial involving dead mice.
See LED Throwie Rodents, Conjoined Twin Mice, and Duck Mouse for more advanced projects.

Artists of Wonder

Links to artists who create items that would fit into a Cabinet of Curiosities.

Noadi's Art Squid & Science Inspired Jewelry & Sculpture

Inspired by a love of marine animals, science, and all things weird and wonderful. Noadi's Art is the creation of Maine artist Sheryl Westleigh. Polymer clay jewelry creations and mixed media sculptures celebrating cuttlefish, octopus, trilobites, HP Lovecraft, and much more that lurks in the depths of the ocean and the imagination.

The Art of Juan Cabana

The Feejee Mermaid and other strange curiousities by Juan Cabana

Custom Creatures Taxidermy Art

Strange creations made with taxidermied animals. And you thought normal taxidermy was creepy?

Etsy :: buildersstudio :: The Builder's Studio

Retro Robots, Ray Guns, Rockets, Flying Saucers

Etsy :: VintageFiligree :: Vintage Filigree Jewelry

Victorian Steampunk Nouveau

Mike Libby - Insect Lab

Insect Lab is an artist studio that customizes real insects with antique watch parts and mechanical components. Offering specimens that come in many shapes, sizes and colors; each insect is individually adorned, each is one of a kind and unique.

Bug Factory

Bug Factory

Etsy :: marytofts :: antiques & curiosities

Welcome to Mary Toft's Orphanage for Wayard Curios!
All of our orphans are one of a kind, hand made or vintage.

Famous Fakes

Genpets.com - Bioengineered Buddies!

Genpets, Real living Pre-packaged, Mass produced, Bioengineered pets! The friendly Genectically modified organism for your child!

Adam Brandejs - Brandejs.ca - portfolio - Genpets/What [ 2005 ]

The Contemporary Fine Art and SFX Sculpture of Adam Brandejs. A gallery showing, new media sculptor using hybrid techniques in many mediums including clay, plastalina, metal, silicon, electronics, computer animation, plastics, and foam latex

Save The Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus

Information about the endangered Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus and what you can do to save it.

Piltdown man

The Piltdown Man website at the Natural History Museum

Piltdown Man

The remarkable story of Piltdown Man began 43 years ago when Charles Dawson, country solicitor and amateur archaeologist and geologist brought to the Natural History Museum in London and handed to Smith Woodward, Keeper of Geology, a number of specimens.

Karl Woolf's "The Feejee Mermaid: The Milwaukee Taxidermied Treasure & Others"

he Feejee Mermaid represents humanity's attempt to deal with its myths. This physical manifestation of ancient myth harkens back to other works of art, but over time became a myth in its own right, resurrected in the modern sideshows. Modern sideshow professionals keep the myth alive, entertaining crowds and preserving a specific part of American cultural heritage.

Nelson Supply Company

Of the old time gaff makers' creations, The Nelson Supply House's "Mummified Curiosities" are among the most gruesomely beautiful and fully conceived attractions ever sold. The imagination and quality which went into creating them allowed Nelson to sell his creations "C.O.D. with the privilege of examination"(1). But proprietor William "Billy" Nelson didn't just sell you a $25 papier-mâché gaff? he sold you a whole show. Supplying the banners, the pitch, and the attraction, Nelson generated a whole business for the showman. All they had to supply was the ticket-box.