Museums had a ‘creepiest object’ showdown on Twitter and it’s a chilling delight
It’s always a treat when museums try to outdo each other on Twitter and this one – a Twitter battle to find their ‘creepiest object’ – is no exception.
It all started when the Yorkshire Museum tweeted this.
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
And here’s what happened next, some truly creepy delights.
1.
Our #CreepiestObject has to be this ‘mermaid’… 😱💀🧜♀️ #CURATORBATTLE #TroublingTaxidermy pic.twitter.com/GMSosyuqIX
— Natural Sciences NMS (@NatSciNMS) April 17, 2020
2.
STEP ASIDE ALL.
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
— York Castle Museum (@YorkCastle) April 17, 2020
3.
We’ve got A LOT of creepy object contenders for today’s #CURATORBATTLE but after some debate (Creepy dolls/ hair dug up from a grave/ a little man in a glass jar….!) we’re going with some pretty grim TV props from Casualty! https://t.co/7j3q2ipW7d #CreepiestObject pic.twitter.com/NR1aHOY9gS
— Blaise Museum (@BlaiseMuseum) April 17, 2020
4.
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
5.
@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.#CURATORBATTLE pic.twitter.com/0YdmCE5dYD
— Norwich Castle (@NorwichCastle) April 17, 2020
6.
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 House (@fairfax_house) April 17, 2020
7.
Does “something in a jar” strike your fancy? #CreepiestObject pic.twitter.com/grVWP5hRLw
— Nova Scotia Museum (@NS_Museum) April 17, 2020
8.
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
9.
Nice. We have a pigeon heart stuck with pins for punishing a witch…#CreepiestObject #CuratorBattle pic.twitter.com/CUOdNlB3eN
— SMT Collections Team (@SMT_Collections) April 17, 2020
10.
GUYS we know we have already won. This severed lower leg by Kerry Jameson has sprouted its own legs and a rather beastly head. @COCAYork #RethinkCeramics pic.twitter.com/Ip84aNacUX
— York Art Gallery (@YorkArtGallery) April 17, 2020
11.
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
12.
We are not a museum, but we have so many creepy things in SOCH (a database for Swedish digital cultural heritage). One of my favourites: This cute little kitty cat (Speldosa, katt med harpa, 1906. Kulturen, CC BY-NC-ND). https://t.co/bSdazHIVX2 pic.twitter.com/ZDb2j9ug4v
— Larissa Borck (@Larissa_Borck) April 17, 2020
13.
Found on the Thames foreshore, I rest my case.#CreepiestObject pic.twitter.com/R21oLjyv3k
— Lara Maiklem (London Mudlark) (@LondonMudlark) April 17, 2020
