The brand new terms and conditions ‘curious’ and you will ‘curiosity’ you’ll head us to discount an target or means as well as creator otherwise enthusiast since a lightweight when the witty historical footnote – but Georgian curiosities encompassed a great deal more than just bearded female eg Baba new Turk and you may narwhale tusks that were dressed up just like the unicorn horns

A colorful satire out-of products-as-curiosities, plus one and therefore records the latest choose the fresh longitude in the ocean, are the reveal put on because of the prominent stage actor Edward Shuter from inside the Bartholomew Fair regarding 1760. (The new star is visible on Zoffany portrait less than of two years afterwards, in which he try to experience Fairness Woodcock about prominent ballad opera Like inside the a village.) Shuter depicted a beneficial ‘Magical Optician’ with a warehouse in the West Smithfield, ‘where would-be heard of extremely uncommon Types of top Curiosities that have been ever showed so you’re able to societal Evaluate [including] MOMUS, a keen Astronomer’. (more…)