15 mysterious museum pieces from around the world

Back in April the Yorkshire Museum launched Twitter hashtag #CURATORBATTLE, in which he called on curators of museums from different countries to share exhibits on a given topic. In July, the first challenge was to show the most mysterious and mysterious artifact - and the authors of the unusual competition started first.

IT'S TIME FOR #CURATORBATTLE!💥

Today's theme is #MysteryObject!🧐

We have this C9th gold beast with piercing blue eyes! The perky ears are sockets to hold something and its lolling tongue is a suspension loop... It’s unique which makes its use a big mystery!

BEAT THAT! 💥 pic.twitter.com/NhlyF6buYA

- Yorkshire Museum (@YorkshireMuseum) July 3, 2020

#CURATORBATTLE time!

A new theme is a mysterious artifact. We have this strange golden beast of the 9th century with piercing blue eyes! His ears were meant to hold something, and his protruding long tongue was a loop for hanging. This item is unique and it is unclear what it was used for.

Other curators also pulled up. Collected the most unusual and strange.

These miniature coffins were found in 1836 hidden on Arthur's Seat... each is expertly carved and in specially made clothes

Why they were made and by whom has baffled experts and public alike#CuratorBattle#MysteryObject

More: https://t.co/By64WfKqxHpic.twitter.com/jlNhkcw3uX

- National Museums Scotland (@NtlMuseumsScot) July 3, 2020

These miniature coffins were discovered in 1836 on Mount Arthur's Seat - each artfully carved with little men in clothes specially tailored for them. Neither museum visitors nor experts know who and why they were created.

IMAGINE

You have sat for hours on end for your portrait and it is named as:

"Portrait of an Unknown Elderly Man with Mustache".

Gutted.

Also by an unknown artist... #MysteryObject#CuratorBattlepic.twitter.com/YsZsgfwOTK

- York Art Gallery (@YorkArtGallery) July 3, 2020

Just imagine: you sat motionless for many hours for the artist to paint your portrait, and then it is called "Portrait of an Unknown Elderly Man with a Mustache." And the artist is also unknown.

We honestly don’t have a clue what this is!

Donated in 1938 this object is described as a 20-sided piece of wood, 1840-1880 ...

Victorians strike again with their weird and wonderful stuff. Any guesses anyone? 😂#MysteryObject#CuratorBattlepic.twitter.com/mJfud0Me0v

- York Castle Museum (@YorkCastle) July 3, 2020

We have no idea what this is! This item was donated to our museum in 1938. This is a 20-sided piece of wood, circa 1840-1880. The Victorians are surprising once again.

Our fluid store is neatly organized & documented... except for the very bottom shelf. We don’t talk about the mystery ceramic pots. No one knows what’s inside. For the 1st time, we opened one marked 'hyrax' to check its contents... Spoiler alert: it wasn't a hyrax. Well, not only. pic.twitter.com/6cis2XDulL

- Grant Museum of Zoology (@GrantMuseum) July 3, 2020

Our liquids department is well organized - except for the bottom shelf. We are not talking about these ceramic pots. Nobody knows what is in them. Once we opened one with the inscription "daman" - and so, there was no daman inside. I mean, not only him.

These carved stone balls from the late Neolithic or early Bronze Age (c. 4000 - 1400) are probably the most mysterious objects in our collection. We still aren’t sure what they were used for, but theories include divination, weaponry or even the beginning of abstract thought🤔 pic.twitter.com/xuAsXdlfyU

- Ashmolean Museum (@AshmoleanMuseum) July 3, 2020

These stone balls with carved designs from the Neolithic or Early Bronze Age (4000-1400 BC) BC) is perhaps the strangest specimen in our collection. We still don't know what they were used for. Possible theories: divination tools, weapons, or even an early example of abstract art.

1 / Buckle up, cause this #MysteryObject is gunna need its own mini-series.

This #CURATORBATTLE we present to you not coffee granules, but leather fragments (!) said to have been taken from Tutankhamun's tomb. They once formed an image of the headdress of the goddess Mut... 👀 pic.twitter.com/GJyMHP6bC9

- National Leather Collection (@museumofleather) July 3, 2020

It looks like coffee granules, but in fact they are fragments of skin - believed to be from the tomb of Tutankhamun. Once they were shaped like the headdress of the goddess Mut, but these pieces are all that have come down to our days. We have no idea what it looked like before it crumbled (but if you look closely, you can see the gilding).
The object ended up in the museum in a tin can with a description card to which the particles were stuck and a photograph of a Victorian child.

So much mystery, so little time! We have however chosen for our #MysteryObject the Mound 1 'wand'. Seemingly a delicate rod of bone or ivory with gold fittings- was it a symbol of office or did it wield other power and significance🤔? #CURATORBATTLE

📷@nationaltrustpic.twitter.com/zfxEWmxqxs

- Sutton Hoo (@NT_SuttonHoo) July 3, 2020

An elegant wand made of bone (possibly ivory) with gold fittings from the Sutton Hoo mound necropolis. Was it a symbol of the owner's status, or did it have a different power and significance? It is not known for certain.

This is a hard one for us because our collection is so well researched & documented (#NotSoHumbleBrag)…

But here goes! We have no idea what this mahogany & brass box is. Its crank turns a small mirror & there’s a bonus mirror mounted separately. Any ideas?#MysteryObjectpic.twitter.com/q47TSlQc8C

- Whipple Museum (@WhippleMuseum) July 3, 2020

The question is complex, given that ours is well studied and described. However, we have no idea what this mahogany and bronze box is. Its handle rotates a small mirror, and there is another mirror that can be installed additionally.

#CURATORBATTLE#MysteryObject

Found in a field, the boss calls it 'the motivator' and keeps it on the corner of their desk, but we have our doubts. If you have any thoughts as to what it is, we would be pleased to hear them. #Oxfordshire#OxonMuseums#FindsFridaypic.twitter.com/CCeMAUiroQ

- oxonmuseum (@OxonMuseum) July 3, 2020

The object was found in a field. Our boss calls him a motivator and keeps him in the corner of his desk, but we have our doubts about this thing. What do you think it might be?

How about this for a #MysteryObject? We affectionately refer to it as the pizza cutter but pretty sure it’s not one of those! We do think it’s related to dentistry but beyond that we’re a bit baffled 🤔

Thoughts?#CURATORBATTLE 🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕 pic.twitter.com/pYs4a2vy4w

- RCPSG Heritage (@RCPSGheritage) July 3, 2020

How about this thing? We call it the pizza knife, but it obviously isn't. It may have been used by dentists, but this is literally our only guess.

And here the curators have no ideas at all.

Oooh Mystery Object ...

What is it?

No, really, WHAT IS IT?

Help us 😩#CURATORBATTLE#mysteryobjectpic.twitter.com/OAlrB7fxqq

- Rotherham Museums and Archives (@CliftonParkMus) July 3, 2020

Let’s do it. Feast your eyes.

We * think * this is a medieval bobbin, but it’s really anyone’s guess. Magic wand? Scary toilet roll-holder?

And why does it need a face? Why do they ALWAYS need faces?#CURATORBATTLE#MysteryObjectpic.twitter.com/zXVmwCmyJR

- Norwich Castle (@NorwichCastle) July 3, 2020

We assume that this is a medieval thread spool, but it is not known for certain. Is it a magic wand? Toilet paper holder? And why does this thing need a face? Why do they ALWAYS have faces?

In the Mohs hardness scale, diamond is rated 10, corundum (sapphire, ruby) 9 & topaz 8. To carve a mineral, you need another one of greater hardness. None of the above are found in Peru. How did ancient Peruvians carve this quartz of hardness 7? No doubt this is a #MisteryObject! pic.twitter.com/8ktWrXQzWL

- Museo Larco (@MuseoLarco) July 3, 2020

On the Mohs scale, diamonds have a durability of 10, sapphires and rubies - 9, and topaz - 8. To process a mineral, you need another one that is more durable. None of the above stones are found in Peru. Then how did the ancient Peruvians manage to carve a piece of quartz with a strength of 7?

Our #MysteryObject is this glass trumpet which stumped even archaeologists! The only one of its type in North America, it cannot be played as it’s extremely fragile. Our current theory is that it was a gift intentionally buried because it was deemed too ‘worldly.’ #CURATORBATTLEpic.twitter.com/Lk8dxBOdvr

- The Ephrata Cloister (@EphrataCloister) July 3, 2020

Even archaeologists were bewildered by this glass pipe! It is one of a kind in North America and cannot be played because it is too fragile. Our current theory is that this gift was deliberately buried because it was deemed too mundane.

More of these items can be found in the comments on the original tweet.