The staff at the Wellcome Library in London have scoured the shelves for the weirdest and most wonderful objects in their collection, the ones that made even them scratch their heads when they first set eyes on them. Can you do better and guess what these oddities are?

A) Claws of last wild boar shot in England, purchased late 19th century



B) Claws from the extinct Chatham Islands penguins, purchased mid 20th century



C) Native American charm, used in the rites of the Tsimshian people, collected late 19th century



D) Mole’s foot amulet carried to cure toothache, UK, found early 20th century





















D) Mole’s foot amulet carried to cure toothache, UK, found early 20th century A) Full body cast for broken bones, UK, early 20th century



B) Articulated mannequin used to teach bone-setting, Italy, 17th century



C) Design for “automated man”, UK, mid 19th century



D) Model of an alien sighting, USA, 19th century Advertisement





B) Articulated mannequin used to teach bone-setting, Italy, 17th century



A) Part of early zoetrope, late 19th century, UK



B) Mechanical fan, mid 19th century, USA



C) Optometer used to determine strength of spectacles required, UK, late 19th century



D) Part of John Logie Baird’s early experiments in television, UK, early 20th century











C) Optometer used to determine strength of spectacles required, UK, late 19th century A) Receptacles used during bloodletting, Italy, mid 18th century



B) Glass eyebaths, UK, 19th century



C) Chalices, used for ceremonies in West Africa, collected mid 18th century



D) Absinthe glasses, owned by Toulose-Lautrec, France, late 19th century





B) Glass eyebaths, UK, 19th century



A) Cobblers' prop for making boots, UK, late 19th century



B) Anaesthetic inhaler, UK, late 19th century



C) Horse nosebag, UK, late 19th century



D) Machinery used to detect miasmatic air, France, mid 19th century





B) Anaesthetic inhaler, UK, late 19th century



A) Candle snuffs, France, late 18th century



B) Contraceptive devices, UK, late 18th century



C) Thimbles for knitting machines, UK, late 19th century



D) Nipple shields, UK, early 19 century

















D) Nipple shields, UK, early 19 century A) Device for stretching stockings before wearing, France, early 20th century



B) Parasol case, UK, late 19th century



C) Victorian ear trumpet, UK, 19th century



D) Bone of saint, wrapped in contemporary cloth, Italian, mid 19th century









C) Victorian ear trumpet, UK, 19th century



A) Ear cap for correcting and preventing "outstanding" ears, UK, early 20th century



B) Sling for holding a newborn child, UK, early 20th century



C) Suspender belt, USA, late 19th century



D) Bra for nursing mothers, UK, late 19th century A) Ear cap for correcting and preventing "outstanding" ears, UK, early 20th century



A) Dental grip, UK, mid 18th century



B) Birthing clamp, UK, late 18th century



C) Anal speculum, UK, mid 18th century



D) Mouth dilator, UK, 16th century











D) Mouth dilator, UK, 16th century A) Enema syringe and piston, UK, mid 19th century



B) Surgical ether dispenser, UK, mid 19th century



C) Victorian room fragrancer, UK, late 19th century



D) Air pollution measurer, UK, mid 19th century A) Enema syringe and piston, UK, mid 19th century



