Even if you have never been to a museum, still you would know how these museums hold some of the most centuries-old pieces of history. And while some of these are aesthetically pleasing, others are just creepy. And creepiness is what this post is all about.
Yorkshire Museum in England has been closed due to coronavirus, so as the staff is as much as bored as we are, and thus they decided to start a challenge. Under the #curatorbattle on social media, the museum asked other museums to showcases the picture of the creepiest thing they have got and the result will scare and please you at the same time.
As the host, Yorkshire Museum shared a picture of a “3rd/4th century hair bun from the burial of a #Roman lady, still with the jet pins in place…”
Other museums soon followed the lead. And you get to decide who won the competition.
Sheep’s heart stuck with pins and nails and strung on a loop of cord. Made in South Devon, circa 1911, “for breaking evil spells”, @Pitt_Rivers collections #CreepiestObject #CuratorBattle pic.twitter.com/z5vdCFCU4S
— Dan Hicks (@profdanhicks) April 17, 2020
@RedHeadedAli how can we ignore such a call to arms?
— Norwich Castle (@NorwichCastle) April 17, 2020
This particular item has caused a few nightmares for our followers this week.
Our #CreepiestObject is…this pincushion! Complete with tiny children’s heads. You’re welcome, Twitter.#CURATORBATTLE pic.twitter.com/0YdmCE5dYD
Just had a thought. Not our object but we did once borrow a silver snuffbox from @MuseumsUniStA that is said to contain the pubic hair of one of George IV’s mistresses.
Yes that’s right a pubic hair snuffbox.#CURATORBATTLE #creepiestobject pic.twitter.com/ePGY8eJ22R— Fairfax ‘Sassy’ House (@fairfax_house) April 17, 2020
STEP ASIDE ALL.
— York Castle Museum (@YorkCastle) April 17, 2020
These are hand-made models of figures playing cards and of gold miners hauling gold nuggets to the surface. BUT the figures are made from crab’s legs and claws… Typical Victorians, they loved weird/creepy stuff. #CreepiestObject pic.twitter.com/A5NHiPGnVh
Live from the Toy Museum of Penshurst Place, we present the Drinking Bear. Feed it a 2 pence piece and it’ll pretend to drink from its cup as it stares into your soul. #CuratorBattle #CreepiestObject pic.twitter.com/ohNl2974UJ
— Penshurst Place (@PenshurstPlace) April 17, 2020
How about this Japanese ukiyo-e(woodblock prints) from @ukiyoeota Collections? This black creepy monster is biting off woman’s HAIR! #CURATORBATTLE #CreepiestObject pic.twitter.com/nkbdodCKqj
— 太田記念美術館 (@ukiyoeota) April 21, 2020
Does “something in a jar” strike your fancy? #CreepiestObject pic.twitter.com/grVWP5hRLw
— Nova Scotia Museum (@NS_Museum) April 17, 2020
If you encounter the Divine Insect (Shinchū) in a nightmare, take heart! This creature from the Extermination of Evil (Hekija-e) paintings is actually a deity who drives away the demons & spirits that cause plagues. (1/2)https://t.co/O3k6TNdoXd#CURATORBATTLE #CreepiestObject pic.twitter.com/aSBEyXeSJ0
— 奈良国立博物館 Nara National Museum, Japan (@narahaku_PR) April 22, 2020
Thanks for thinking of us @HottyCouture and wow, will we be having nightmares tonight with all these #CreepiestObject|s ! Here is the one we just can’t hide from you, one of our many creepy gems – our Plague Mask (1650/1750)! #curatorbattle pic.twitter.com/JrMjqAJSIM
— Deutsches Historisches Museum (@DHMBerlin) April 17, 2020
Thanks for thinking of us @HottyCouture and wow, will we be having nightmares tonight with all these #CreepiestObject|s ! Here is the one we just can’t hide from you, one of our many creepy gems – our Plague Mask (1650/1750)! #curatorbattle pic.twitter.com/JrMjqAJSIM
— Deutsches Historisches Museum (@DHMBerlin) April 17, 2020
As the Icelandic museum of Sorcery and Witchcraft isn’t on twitter I’ll post for them this – Necropants. Sadly a replica, but according to Icelandic lore you make them from a dead man’s skin and overnight the pockets fill with coin#CURATORBATTLE #CreepiestObject pic.twitter.com/D5ghrBLTgU
— Atli Viðar (@atli_vidar) April 18, 2020
Many museums have one but they usually look more like our other ‘mermaid’…
— Natural Sciences NMS (@NatSciNMS) April 18, 2020
We have a little more information about this one: The posterior half was formed from a Pacific wrasse, & the head/thorax were sculpted, with fish jaw inserted in the mouth. #CreepiestObject pic.twitter.com/7MrPcaZqdh
We have quite a few creepy specimen. According to many visitors, our #CreepiestObject is this one – half a pregnant cat in fluid: pic.twitter.com/OQuShfv2pN
— Grant Museum of Zoology (@GrantMuseum) April 17, 2020
Nice. And we have an actual witch ?♀️? #CURATORBATTLE #CreepiestObject pic.twitter.com/c3e9Nm3NZH
— Dan Hicks (@profdanhicks) April 17, 2020
Hold up! We’d be totally remiss if we didn’t jump on this #CreepiestObject train. We’re way a-head of you with the severed noggin of Peter Kurten, real-life #Vampire of Dusseldorf! ??♂️ You can fang us later for the #nightmares. #CuratorBattle pic.twitter.com/7uritZMmIc
— Believe It or Not! (@Ripleys) April 20, 2020
This #doll belonged to the Georgian double bass virtuoso Domenico #Dragonetti… WHO MARRIED IT!
— Royal College of Music Museum (@RCMMuseum) April 17, 2020
(Yes, really.)
He lived alone in an apartment filled with dolls & this one was his ‘wife’.
Read more about Dragonetti & his dolls here: https://t.co/irvGZ902Ue #CreepiestObject pic.twitter.com/UYuvSckvPC
Turns out stone can be PRETTY creepy. We would not want to bump into this creature in the dead of the night…it’s thought to be hankering after human flesh ???. From @welovehistory‘s Elgin Cathedral. #CreepiestObject pic.twitter.com/FesVC7OfKX
— The Engine Shed (@HESEngineShed) April 17, 2020
Also Read: Watch: Canadian PM Justin Trudeau Does A Hair Flip On Live TV And Twitter ‘Flips’ Over
So who do you think takes the first prize?
