hominisaevum:

1. A seventeenth-century pomander and chain
2. A parcel-gilt silver pomander, made in Italy in the 16th century; features a niello inscription
3. Pomander, gold filigree, enclosing a ball of ambergris. 1600-1700
4. Gold and Silver Pomander, 16th Century

***Pomander - a ball made of perfumes, such as ambergris (whence the name),musk, or civet. The pomander was worn or carried in a vase, also known by the same name, as a protection against infection in times of pestilence or merely as a useful article to modify bad smells. The globular cases which contained the pomanders were hung from a neck-chain or belt, or attached to the girdle, and were usually perforated and made of gold or silver. Sometimes they contained several partitions, in each of which was placed a different perfume.

dinosaurparty:

Monopoly Is Theft | Harper’s Magazine
By Christopher Ketcham, harpers.org

The play­ers at Table 25 fought first over the choice of pawns. Doug Herold, a forty-four-year-old real estate apprais­er, set­tled on the car. The play­er across from him, a shark-eyed IT recruiter named Billy, opted for the ship and took a pull…

Really nice article about the origins of Monopoly, including its origins as The Landlord’s Game.

Great article about my favorite game…

treselegant:

‘A Sleeveless Water-proof.’

Cassell’s Family Magazine, 1886. 

catafalques:

Medicine chest, Poland, 1751-1800

This highly decorated medicine chest most probably belonged to a wealthy family based in the Polish town of Cracow. A range of medical treatments were stored in the glass bottles and wooden drawers and the internal surfaces are highly decorated. The inside cover has religious imagery, which can be moved forward to reveal an illustration of a woman with her hands in a fountain. The front flap of the chest opens out to reveal a detailed map of Cracow, with many of the important buildings identified using a key.

moshita:

secret poison case disguised as a book, 17th century

legrandcirque:

Harry Houdini in handcuffs, 1918.

Source: Bettmann/Corbis

biomedicalephemera:

The Quack Doctor

“I have a secret Art, to cure
Each Malady, which Men endure!”

[Source: Ephemeral Scraps on Flickr]