A curious new exhibition has opened at the Linnean Society in central London, featuring an intriguing collection that playfully combines scientific specimens with whimsical naming conventions. The exhibition, titled "Wonder," includes displays with cheeky titles like "Hairy Styles" - referring to a collection of hairy specimens rather than the pop star - and references to "three testicles" found within a historical notebook on display.
Inspired by the grand European tradition of cabinets of curiosity, or Wunderkammer, which flourished during the 17th and 18th centuries, the exhibition showcases a series of themed displays featuring some of the Linnean Society's most unusual treasures. The curators have deliberately adopted a whimsical approach that emphasizes wonder and discovery over rigid scientific explanation, creating an experience that prioritizes curiosity and amazement.
The exhibition maintains a gently entertaining atmosphere that focuses more on presenting oddities for visitors to marvel at rather than providing detailed scientific explanations, and this approach forms a large part of its charm. Visitors can expect moments of delight, fascination, and occasionally the odd shudder of discomfort as they examine the various exhibits. The collection includes animal skins, preserved spiders, and a pipe reportedly carved from an albatross bone, all contributing to a suitably spooky atmosphere that aligns perfectly with the Halloween season.
Among the particularly noteworthy items is a handwritten dinner bill from the King's Arms in Kew, dating back to Carl Linnaeus's visit to London, which stands in stark contrast to today's plain thermal receipt paper. Visitors should also keep an eye out for the hexagonal postage stamps on display, as such unusual stamp shapes are rarely seen. The famous "three testicles" reference requires some detective work to locate, with curators suggesting that visitors use their phone cameras to zoom in on the notebook page to read the historical text clearly.
The curators have injected humor into the exhibition labels with playful section titles including "Hairy Styles," "Flights of Fancy," "You Monster," "Itty Bitty Deadly!" "Around the World," "Domestic Bliss," "Surf and Turf," and "Different Wavelengths." This lighthearted approach reflects the philosophy that science should be engaging and fun at times, making the subject matter more accessible to general audiences.
The "Wonder" exhibition is located at the Linnean Society on Piccadilly and will run until March 2026. The exhibition is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and admission is free for all visitors. The venue's library setting, with its tall shelves filled with books surrounding illuminated display cases, creates an atmospheric backdrop that enhances the cabinet of curiosities experience.
