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It’s not every day that you see a Victorian mug made to keep mustaches safe from tea or a velvet hat covered in the teeth of dental patients from the 1800s. But perhaps if you took more visits to The Museum of Curiosities on Twitter, run by the Monsieur Pompier’s Travelling Freakshow musical group, you might find yourself learning about strange things such as these on a daily basis!

Below, you’ll find some of our favorite posts from this bizarre page dedicated to sharing all things weird, as well as an interview with Monsieur Pompier himself. From old paintings with interesting subjects to weird contraptions that aren’t common nowadays, we’re sure you’ll find something that piques your interest on this list. So enjoy visiting this virtual museum, and keep reading to find out how you might be able to visit it in person some day soon too!    

More info: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Album | MonsieurPompier.com | Donate

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juice
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

cats have been messing with us as long as we can remember! i wonder if it ever knocked the inkpot off the table...

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The Museum of Curiosities, or Monsieur Pompier's Museum of Curiosities, has been fascinating viewers on Twitter since January 2012. The page has amassed an impressive 46.2k followers through sharing over 5,000 photos and videos and by captivating audiences from all over the globe. According to the virtual museum’s website, “It all started in a tiny corner of the internet around ten years ago when a strange man named Paul began posting interesting and unusual items from the past on Twitter and Instagram.”

“Over the following decade, the popularity of these accounts grew to such a degree that the idea of turning this online prescience into reality became something increasingly hard to ignore,” the museum’s creators continued. “And so, in 2023, it was announced that Monsieur Pompier would launch Ireland’s first ever Museum of Curiosities the following year and (as of February 2023) is currently finalizing the collection, raising funds and looking for a home for this world of wonders.” 

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Mat Hall
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you're on one ship that sinks it's bad luck. Two, that's *really* bad luck. Three, maybe you're sinking them...

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Gillbella
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I bet this was the stone mason's cat, and his kids were like "Daddy, but Fluffy and her kitten in the castle!"

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That’s right, pandas. Come 2024, you’ll be able to visit Ireland and take an IRL look at some of the world’s quirkiest and most fascinating objects and images. You can actually donate to the campaign right here if you’re interested in helping it become a reality! And if you’d like to learn more about Monsieur Pompier's Museum of Curiosities, or the musical group behind it all, lucky for us, Bored Panda was able to get in touch with them about 8 months ago when we first featured their Twitter account. 

Paul, aka Monsieur Pompier himself, previously shared that some of his initial inspiration for the account and museum project came from one of his favorite websites on the internet, 'The Museum of Ridiculously Interesting Things' curated by Dr. Chelsea Nichols and Viktor Wynd's 'Museum Of Curiosities' in London, as well as various other museums both real and fictional who operate in the same strange world. “I'm a magpie for anything oddball and unusual, especially from the past, so I'm always on the lookout for stories about things like old medical devices, bad taxidermy, the occult, bad inventions, weird unsolved mysteries, and so on,” he explained.

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Corvus
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

30-something-year-old Egyptians: "Remember those cat rings we had as kids? So nostalgic."

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Evan not Hansen
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I want to be a nice old man with a walking cane with a distinguished cat with glasses on it. I will be super friendly and vaguely reminiscent of someone in Mary Poppins, and I will give children rainbow lollipops and wear cute suspenders and button down shirts with cat patterns.

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We were fortunate enough to get in touch with Paul again for this article, and he gave us some updates on what he's been doing since we last spoke. "I’ve spent the last eight months collecting weird and wonderful curiosities for my museum which I hope to launch at some point in 2024," he told Bored Panda. "I’m still quite a way off, but little by little I see the rooms filling up with all manner of oddities, making me look like something of a hoarder (which I think is a good sign that I’m getting closer to having enough stuff to launch the museum!). I’m currently seeking donations to help make the museum a reality here and you can donate whatever you like - be that money or your own curiosities which you’d like to see featured in the museum!"

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"Meanwhile, I’ve continued performing all over Ireland and Europe with my Travelling Freakshow project, which for those who don’t know (i.e., most of the universe!), is a strange mix of dark cabaret, performance art and eccentric psychedelic songs penned by yours truly under my pseudonym Monsieur Pompier," Paul continued.

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Mojo Flizash
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's awesome. We just don't have cool architecture or history like this in the states.

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Paul previously described the musical group as a "very eccentric rock group and sometimes cabaret act" that's been touring around Europe since 2018 with “a rotating cast of characters including The Ear Fairy, Guts The Cat, The Crabbit, as well as newcomers such as Betty Bogweed and Sister Whispers."

"On stage, I attempt to sing my ridiculous songs whilst the 'freaks' interact with me or the audience as they interpret and act out the story of their individual songs," he explained. There's no question that their music is worth checking out!

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Stygtand
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why did ken never impregnate barbie? Because he came in a different box.

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Paul also explained how he decides what kind of content to feature on his account. "I take inspiration from real life curiosity museums like the Viktor Wynd Museum in London, or the wonderful Prehistoria Museum in Toronto, which I had the pleasure of visiting last year," he explained. "Another real gem that I discovered on my travels was the Design Panopticon in Berlin which focuses on bizarre household and industrial objects rather than traditional 'curiosities.'"

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"Personally, I’m most interested in curiosities which have a peculiar social history attached to them," Paul added. "Dr Chelsea Nichols of the Museum of Ridiculously Interesting Things catalogues items like this, ranging from magic potatoes to explosive rats."

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The Original Bruno
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had a flat tire one time and I needed to call assistance because I couldn't figure out how the new jack worked. AAA came over, and I realized I had a few odd things stored above the donut wheel in the chamber: a dagger I had picked up at a renaissance festival, and a last-rites kit my mother had given me for my new home. Very old school. The kit was in the shape of a crucifix, and contained holy oil, holy water, candles, prayer scrolls, new testament bible... The AAA guy said without pulling his head out of the back of the car: "One thing I could never stomach about living in Santa Clara. All the damned vampires."

CaptainDinosaur
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Anybody interested I can load shotgun shells with Rosary Beads. Just saying.

Bi Emo 007 ️‍
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I was a child I always wanted to be a vampire. I read Brar Stoker’s Dracula at the ripe old age of 10. In fact, I read all the Bram Stoker works before I turned 12. It was my dream until I realized that you had to die to become a vampire. My soul was crushed. But I still obsess on vampires to this very day. This is just a long winded way of saying that I want this.

Marie Dahme
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But what would you do with your immortal time ? See all the great works of art, read all the classic literature, listen to the most moving pieces of music ?

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Skara Brae
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Imagine walking down the street and having to sidestep random dead vampire bodies.

D. Pitbull
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oooh. You could make your own these days... first - get some size 50 (US) Wooden knitting needles...

Mark Mark
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Aww the little telescope, "so that you can see the vampire from up to 50 feet away." Handy stuff.

Madeline J
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just gotta get a hammer, and this, and that... and done! Sweetie, I'm prepared to lug around a heavy case until I find a vampire! Thats great.. honey... um, I'm just going to my cult-

Imjust jim
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Saw about the same kit on pawnstars...pawned for 16k sold later for 25k...

Ąåřţđęşịɠŋȿ
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

the spyglass is a nice touch, but where is the mirror and the garlic necklace? Seems like an incomplete set.

H.J. carlson
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Could this have been a prop from the Hammer Studio in England? They made terrific movies back in the '60-70's!! 😲😁👍

Amanita Virosa
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I saw one of these in the Mercer Museum in Pennsylvania. It was listed as a Hoax but still very cool to view.

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As far as why we should all be fascinated by these curiosities, Paul says, "They give us a brief insight into worlds forgotten and worlds never understood to begin with. History, especially pre-twentieth century history, is overwhelmingly concerned with documenting the lives of the rich and prestigious. The likes of the Victorian shoe doll (primitive dolls made from old shoes and scraps of fabric), give us a snapshot of what life was like for poorer people and how they found creative ways to make little moments of magic in very difficult times."

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"I would like to thank everyone who has been following my social media accounts over the years on Twitter and Instagram, as well as you cool cats at Bored Panda for taking an interest in my project," Paul added. "Let’s hope the next interview is to announce the opening of my REAL LIFE museum of curiosities!" We can't wait to announce that excited news either!

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Display Name
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But wouldn't you know what a lion looks like when a guy straight drops a dead lion on your counter and asks you to stuff it?

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Evan not Hansen
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That looks heavy, props to the person carrying it around, especially with that thin cord probably digging into their shoulders. I'm also surprised the books didn't slip off the shelves when in motion, but I guess the walking librarian must have been very skilled.

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Have you seen something new that you found fascinating on this list, pandas? We would love to hear in the comments below what you find most interesting, as well as what you would include in your own personal museum of curiosities. Keep upvoting your favorite pics, and then if you’re interested in even more captivating images that have been shared by The Museum of Curiosities on Twitter, you can find Bored Panda’s last article on the same topic right here!     

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Brenda
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've always wanted one of these! They're horribly expensive and usually not complete. But so beautiful!

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David
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When you think you are strutting your stuff by whipping out your gun shaped compact but then another lady whips out her jewel encrusted frog.

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Marvelor
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like a three-year-old found a swimming cap and some scissors 😂

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suskaa
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The gnome is the work of a Swedish props artist named Jacob Peterson, and he first posted pictures of it to his Deviant Art website in 2008, later also posting it in his Curiomira website in 2009. http://curiomira.blogspot.com/2009/07/swedish-hustomte.html?m=1

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Note: this post originally had 98 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.