This thread of museums' 'creepiest objects' will give you nightmares
With their doors closed for the foreseeable future, museums all around the world have been leveraging their online followings and sharing artworks and artifacts via social media.
Some museums have started to offer virtual tours. Others have created fun artwork recreation challenges. Britain’s Yorkshire Museum, though? Well, it’s keeping busy by sharing the creepiest object in their collection — and encouraging other museums to do the same.
On April 17, Yorkshire Museum challenged museum curators far and wide to a “curator battle.” The challenge? Show off the “creepiest object” your museum has to offer.
“We’re kicking things off with this 3rd/4th century hair bun from the burial of a #Roman lady, still with the jet pins in place…” the museum wrote. “CAN YOU BEAT IT?”
MUSEUMS ASSEMBLE! It's time for #CURATORBATTLE! 💥
Today's theme, chosen by you, is #CreepiestObject!
We're kicking things off with this 3rd/4th century hair bun from the burial of a #Roman lady, still with the jet pins in place...
CAN YOU BEAT IT? 💥 pic.twitter.com/ntPiXDuM6v— Yorkshire Museum (@YorkshireMuseum) April 17, 2020
Well, several museums stepped up to the challenge.
Penshurst Place’s creepiest object was “the Drinking Bear,” part of an exhibit at their Toy Museum.
“Feed it a 2 pence piece and it’ll pretend to drink from its cup as it stares into your soul,” the manor house joked.
The Natural Sciences division of National Museums Scotland presented their creepiest object: a “mermaid.”
Our #CreepiestObject has to be this ‘mermaid’... 😱💀🧜♀️ #CURATORBATTLE#TroublingTaxidermypic.twitter.com/GMSosyuqIX
— Natural Sciences NMS (@NatSciNMS) April 17, 2020
Bradford Museums & Galleries shared some lovely (read as: terrifying) photos of antique dolls.
Here's a couple of late editions, courtesy of our Conservator..... pic.twitter.com/kJllafRivT
— Bradford Museums & Galleries (@BradfordMuseums) April 17, 2020
As creepy as they were, they couldn’t top the doll that Cape Fear Museum has on display.
This is one our all-time fave #CreepiestObject#curatorbattle. She's a prop from the TV show "American Gothic." pic.twitter.com/r9XQxaaLIE
— Cape Fear Museum (@capefearmuseum) April 17, 2020
The Ukiyo-e Ōta Memorial Museum of Art shared a “terrifying” woodblocks print of a “black creepy monster … biting off woman’s HAIR.”
How about this Japanese ukiyo-e(woodblock prints) from @ukiyoeota Collections? This black creepy monster is biting off woman's HAIR! #CURATORBATTLE#CreepiestObjectpic.twitter.com/nkbdodCKqj
— 太田記念美術館 Ota Memorial Museum of Art (@ukiyoeota) April 21, 2020
Norwich Castle, meanwhile, showed up with a pincushion decorated with children’s heads. “This particular item has caused a few nightmares for our followers this week,” the castle wrote.
@RedHeadedAli how can we ignore such a call to arms?
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.#CURATORBATTLEpic.twitter.com/0YdmCE5dYD— Norwich Castle (@NorwichCastle) April 17, 2020
If you’re a fan of all things creepy, check out the Twitter thread to see more museum submissions. (Scroll at your own risk!)
If you enjoyed this story, check out these delightfully creepy Disney face masks.
More from In The Know:
Chrissy Teigen officiates wedding for daughter’s stuffed animals
This online pharmacy is full of essentials to stock in your medicine cabinet
This celeb-loved skincare brand has a set that’s under $90 right now
The absolute best black bags to buy during Nordstrom’s spring sale
The post Help — museums are sharing their ‘creepiest objects’ on Twitter appeared first on In The Know.
