If I could, I would live in a wunderkammer--an old world library packed to the brim with deliciously offbeat finds. In Renaissance Europe, wealthy collectors--or those who hoped to join their ranks--hoarded trinkets (some real, some fake) from the realms of archeology, natural history, and medicine. (And they had latter-day U.S. counterparts. Case in point: Philadelphia's delightfully repulsive Mutter Museum, which exhibits skulls, tumors, and organs.)
Ok: this stuff isn't for the faint of heart--or the easily nauseated.
But it is endlessly fascinating...and sometimes even playful. I recently made my own version (above) featuring a mounted butterfly, salvaged glass bottles, and some low-maintence plants. There's nothing too cringe-inducing in the mix.
Here are a few ways to get the look yourself--without veering into haunted-house territory.
Get up close and personal with these creepy crawly magnifying glasses from Two's Company.
This gator's beady eyes--and razor-sharp chompers--are still a bit scary, even in taxidermy form! ($55; huntersandgatherersnyc.com)
Green-and-white sea urchins look almost plush, like tufted pillows. ($4; theevolutionstore.com)
Stash your keys on this phrenology-inspired tray, just in case the "perceptive" lobe needs a bit of positive reinforcement. (88; johnderian.com)
Apothecary jars and prescriptions for cure-all elixirs strike a balance between charming and sinister. ($95; etsy.com). For a budget-friendly take, download eerie label templates from Country Living, print them on sticker paper, and slap them on vintage inspired bottles from Save-On-Crafts or beanilla.com.
Can't stomach a bug preserved in resin? Beetle pillows lend an air of oddity without the ick factor. ($20 and $25; worldmarket.com)
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