#MuseumObject

This elaborate alarm clock from the 19th century prompted people to think about the shortness of life. When the alarm bell chimed, a small card running up the skeleton’s spinal column retracted to make the jaw open and the eyes roll. It's now at the Science Museum, London.

#histodon #histodons #history #museum #museumobject #histmed #histsci #sciart #mementomori #FF

Here are male and female memento mori figurines used for spiritual contemplation from the 19th century. They were meant to remind the owner of the transience of life and material luxury. They are now part of the Wellcome Collection in London.

Possible wedding cake toppers?! 😂

#histodons #histodon #introductions #twitterstorians #museumobject #mementomori #death #DYK

One side of this ivory "memento mori" features a human face crawling with worms and insects; the other side shows a skull - the flesh eaten away. Date unknown.

This unusual object is from the Wellcome Collection in London.

#histodons #histodon #MementoMori #MuseumArchive #MuseumObject #Death #Weird

Midwifery Bag, c.1866 - containing destructive & non-destructive instruments. This bag would likely have belonged to a male midwife/obstetrican as female midwives traditionally did not use instruments when delivering babies in this period.

Photo: Science Museum, London.

#HistMed #MedHist #HistSci #MedMastodon #Histodon #Histodons #History #MuseumArchive #MuseumObject #FF

Our #ObjectOfTheWeek is a Creative Zen Micro (2004), a 5GB hard drive- based portable audio player that also features a built-in FM radio tuner/recorder, voice recorder & microphone. Donated by @msmarypoppers.

#MP3Player #mp3 #creative #CreativeZen #CreativeZenMicro #MuseumObject #PortableSound #MuseumOfPortableSound

Wax Vanitas (c.1700) - intended to remind us of the certainty of death. One side features a skull with insects feasting on decaying flesh. The other side resembles Queen Elizabeth I. It reads: “vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”

This object is from the Wellcome Collection in #London.

#HistMed #MementoMori #HistSci #Histodons #Museums #WeirdHistory #MuseumObject #SciArt #Queen

Tinted, double-hinged spectacles, c.1790. Many opticians believed green or blue glass was easier on the eyes and would reduce glare; while clear glass was too soft and would distort images.

This extraordinary example is from the Wellcome Collection in London.

#histmed #histsci #histodons #mastodon #introduction #medhist #medhistory #MedMastodon #museumobject #steampunk

"The Tooth Worm as Hell's Demon,” 18th century. Carved from ivory, the two halves open up to reveal a scene about the infernal torments of a tooth worms which people believed caused cavities in the past. Complete with mini skulls, hellfire, and naked people wielding clubs.

#histodons #mastodon #introduction #histmed #histsci #museumobject #medhist #MedMastodon

Wax Vanitas (c.1700) - intended to remind us of the certainty of death. One side features a skull with insects feasting on decaying flesh. The other side resembles Queen Elizabeth I. It reads: “vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”

This object is from the Wellcome Collection in #London.

#HistMed #MementoMori #HistSci #Histodons #Museums #WeirdHistory #MuseumObject #SciArt #Queen

Hello, #Mastodon!

This whalebone walking stick with skull pommel once belonged to Charles Darwin. Yep, you read that right!. I bet you didn't know Darwin was such a badass. It's now on display at the Wellcome Collection in London, and I think you'll agree it's pretty amazing.

Happy #Monday!

#histodon #introduction #histmed #histsci #museumobject #weirdhistory #twittermigration #histodons #science #medicine #TIL