The Seven Deadly Sinners

Antique Eyes on Ebay

While on a late night quest for cool weird stuff, I found these fantastic tiny antique paintings of eyes created as pins for sale on ebay.

1.) Antique Miniature Eye Portrait Brooch, the portrait on ivy depicting a bright blue eye below curling powdered locks, framed by foil-backed red pastes, wd. 1 1/8 in.

2.) Antique Miniature Eye Portrait Pendant/Brooch, the portrait depicting a blue eye on a stippled ground, reverse with locket compartment containing plaited blonde locks, gold mount, lg. 1 5/8 in.

3.) Antique Miniature Eye Portrait Pin, depicting a brown eye, framed by split seed pearls, gold mount, lg. 3/4 in.

4.) Antique Miniature Eye Portrait Pendant, the portrait depicting a brown eye and curling lock, framed by plaited brown hair, gold mount, reverse inscribed "Estimez la Donneuse", lg. 1 3/4 in.

And if that's not enough, here's a gallery of lover's eye jewelry including pendants and rings.

Mmm! Leeches!

If you've got a spare $7,000 USD lying around, here's a "fine example of a rare piece of bloodletting history" for sale on ebay.

The Harvard Dodo

A photo for Kamala, who loves the ugly chickens as much as I do.

More wacky antique taxidermy here.

Sea Creatures in Glass

More incredibly cool glass from the Blaschka family, on view now at the Harvard Museum of Natural History.

Bug Update

The bugs have now apparently filled up the trees so they are flying  around and looking for love. 

When they land on you they have sharp little claws good for clinging to narrow twigs. 

Here's a mutant one.

Magicicada!

 My favorite cousin writes from Cape Cod:

It happens every 17 years.

First there are 3/4 inch holes in the ground.  Lots of them.

Then these huge tan bugs start showing up everywhere.

Then they molt and turn black with red eyes.  They are 2 inches long.

There are millions of them.  During the day they call to each other. Really loudly.  Like the sound alien saucers make in old movies.

Did I mention that the noise is REALLY LOUD.  Fortunately they don't scream at night. 

Unfortunately they think the day starts at 4 am.

They have been here for over a week.  Every day there are more of them and they get louder, up to 100 db.  They are clearly breaking the law.

They don't eat (although the birds, squirrels and local dogs are enjoying the crunchy treats) and they don't do much long term damage, just mate and die.  They are just really really annoying.  I want them to go away now.

Medusa Jellyfish Lamp

Amazing jellyfish lamp by Timothy Horn (via Neatorama)

And for more jellyfish fun, porcelain jellyfish are here.

The Amazing Puffing/Flattening Owl

As seen on TV in Japan, the white faced scops owl puffs or shrinks depending on circumstances.

Thanks, Kamala!

Antique Patent Art

Found on ebay today: fascinating art prints of old patent sketches. Seen here:

Vincent Valentine Water Pistol Patent 1955

Patricia Morehouse Brassiere Patent 1962

Oresto J. Parco Woman's Buddy Patent 1970*

Anthony Bird Cage And Smoking Stand 1941

PENTECOSTAL CHURCH GOD Amusement Riding Children 1961

Mary Menzies Reducing Garment Patent 1965

*Note: "Woman's Buddy" image is modified to fit this graphic

Embroidered Anomalocaris bag

Not a Triops, but an interesting beast nonetheless, and not something you see every day.

Ok, maybe not something you see every day. We have an Anomalocaris coffee mug from the Royal Tyrrell Museum Gift Shop. We likes our Cambrian Critters here in Chez Bagley.

For sale on Etsy, the description is as follows: These Anomalocaris are ready to swim strait through millions of years of evolution just to protect your gadget! Once thought to be a weird side branch to the animal kingdom, these long extinct creatures are now known to be relatives of the primitive arthropods and trilobites.

Of course, no one knows what they really looked like, but my best guess has been embroidered by hand onto imported green felt. The bag is lined with soft cotton, and closes with a vintage button. It measures 4 inches by 2.5 inches.