Decorating with Science
Painter Sean Scherer is copying me! Well, anyway, I thought I was the only person who likes decorating with anatomical models and other science-related things, but judging from the slide show of his house on the NYTimes website, he is drawn to the same thing.
Decorating with science-related objects is not for everyone. While I might look at an animal skeleton and find it wondrous, another person would be justified to find it creepy. I can understand that. My husband and I have been looking for an antique anatomical chart for awhile now, but most of them are too gory for us. Because of this, we haven’t found the right one to hang in our house yet.
But at the least, science is always interesting, and it’s a great way to add interest to your decor. For example, you could use:
Anatomical models. As the above picture from Scherer’s house shows, displaying a model like these anatomical hearts as sculpture invites interest and has a nice metaphorical punch. (Keeping a heart in a glass case, putting it on a stand for all to see and handle, etc.) The above is $46.50 from Wisdom King.
There are also anatomical charts. Personally, I prefer the hand-drawn antique charts because they often have character and inaccuracies. But if you want a modern one, there are plenty of cool charts available online from places like here and here. They range from $15-$20, and you can even choose to have them laminated.
While I find it morbid to have human skeletons around, animal skeletons are often amazing in their delicacy and intricacy. Someday, I will get around to purchasing a bat skeleton like the above, which costs $55.
Finally, antique medical supplies are very collectible, and when you look at things like this French antique dental model from the 1920s, it’s easy to tell why. These things are weird, archaic and completely fascinating. To learn more about collecting antique medical instruments, click here.
