Cat Irving
@anatomicalcat.bsky.social
Human Remains Conservator at Surgeons’ Hall. Snake charmer. Beagle feeder. All-round general necromancer
Pinned
Cat Irving
@anatomicalcat.bsky.social
· Nov 17
Hello #bluesky!
What does a human remains conservator do?
I work at Surgeons’ Hall, Edinburgh (and other collections) to ensure human remains are correctly preserved and cared for. I also research the history of dissection and the variety of ways humanity has tried to stop decomposition
What does a human remains conservator do?
I work at Surgeons’ Hall, Edinburgh (and other collections) to ensure human remains are correctly preserved and cared for. I also research the history of dissection and the variety of ways humanity has tried to stop decomposition
This table may seem odd in that there is a foot and four ears on it - but in fact the whole table top is made of petrified human remains. It was made by Efisio Marini and gifted to Napoleon III in 1867, and it can now be seen in the Musée de l’histoire de la médecine in Paris.
February 3, 2026 at 7:59 PM
This table may seem odd in that there is a foot and four ears on it - but in fact the whole table top is made of petrified human remains. It was made by Efisio Marini and gifted to Napoleon III in 1867, and it can now be seen in the Musée de l’histoire de la médecine in Paris.
The Purgatory Chapel of St Michael’s Church in Untergriesbach, Bavaria displays a small collection of bones, included skulls that have been painted, usually with the name and dates of the person, sometimes their occupation, and other decoration.
February 1, 2026 at 7:38 PM
The Purgatory Chapel of St Michael’s Church in Untergriesbach, Bavaria displays a small collection of bones, included skulls that have been painted, usually with the name and dates of the person, sometimes their occupation, and other decoration.
Reposted by Cat Irving
Beyond the Knife is back for 2026!
In a not-so-romantic pre-Valentine’s special, our Human Remains Conservator Cat Irving unpacks the fascinating history of syphilis.
You can listen wherever you get your podcasts.
shows.acast.com/beyond-the-k...
In a not-so-romantic pre-Valentine’s special, our Human Remains Conservator Cat Irving unpacks the fascinating history of syphilis.
You can listen wherever you get your podcasts.
shows.acast.com/beyond-the-k...
January 30, 2026 at 9:15 AM
Beyond the Knife is back for 2026!
In a not-so-romantic pre-Valentine’s special, our Human Remains Conservator Cat Irving unpacks the fascinating history of syphilis.
You can listen wherever you get your podcasts.
shows.acast.com/beyond-the-k...
In a not-so-romantic pre-Valentine’s special, our Human Remains Conservator Cat Irving unpacks the fascinating history of syphilis.
You can listen wherever you get your podcasts.
shows.acast.com/beyond-the-k...
An anatomical Christ, made in Germany - probably Bavaria - in the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century
January 28, 2026 at 8:05 PM
An anatomical Christ, made in Germany - probably Bavaria - in the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century
Reposted by Cat Irving
And here am I, doing one of my very successful online lectures for Romancing The Gothic.
January 26, 2026 at 11:57 PM
And here am I, doing one of my very successful online lectures for Romancing The Gothic.
I saw this model by Gaetano Giulio Zumbo in Paris on Saturday. He was a wax modeller who worked with a surgeon in Genoa, replicating his dissections in wax. Only two of his models survive from the end of the 17thC. I’ve posted photos of the one in La Specola in Florence before - this is the other
January 26, 2026 at 9:58 PM
I saw this model by Gaetano Giulio Zumbo in Paris on Saturday. He was a wax modeller who worked with a surgeon in Genoa, replicating his dissections in wax. Only two of his models survive from the end of the 17thC. I’ve posted photos of the one in La Specola in Florence before - this is the other
Giving one of my earliest talks on the 1832 Anatomy Act…
January 26, 2026 at 9:32 PM
Giving one of my earliest talks on the 1832 Anatomy Act…
A skull peers out from a wall of long bones Skulls in the ossuary of the Church of St James, Brno, which holds the remains of more than 50,000 people
January 21, 2026 at 8:56 PM
A skull peers out from a wall of long bones Skulls in the ossuary of the Church of St James, Brno, which holds the remains of more than 50,000 people
One of the catacomb saints in Ursberg,Germany - skeletons from catacombs in Rome that were sent over the Alps during the Counter Reformation to places where saints’ relics had been destroyed. Their ostentatious garments and gems were a declaration of the rewards that God gave to good Catholics
January 20, 2026 at 8:04 PM
One of the catacomb saints in Ursberg,Germany - skeletons from catacombs in Rome that were sent over the Alps during the Counter Reformation to places where saints’ relics had been destroyed. Their ostentatious garments and gems were a declaration of the rewards that God gave to good Catholics
Plaster models showing eye diseases, made by French doctor Félix Thibert in the 1830s. He wanted all doctors to have access to a clinical picture of all common diseases so produced a series of models like these intended as a three dimensional encyclopaedia
January 19, 2026 at 7:49 PM
Plaster models showing eye diseases, made by French doctor Félix Thibert in the 1830s. He wanted all doctors to have access to a clinical picture of all common diseases so produced a series of models like these intended as a three dimensional encyclopaedia
Thinking back to an amazing time in Borneo
Folk seem to be doing a 2016 look back so here’s some photos of our trip to Borneo, where we stayed with a lovely Iban family. One of us weathered the intense jungle heat with grace and elan. One of us… did not.
January 18, 2026 at 10:51 PM
Thinking back to an amazing time in Borneo
This is a wax model made in 19thC Brussels showing an enlarged heart. Also known as cardiomegaly, it can be caused by a variety of conditions such as high blood pressure, cardiomyopathy, heart valves problems, or blocked coronary arteries - basically, anything that makes the heart work harder.
January 15, 2026 at 7:49 PM
This is a wax model made in 19thC Brussels showing an enlarged heart. Also known as cardiomegaly, it can be caused by a variety of conditions such as high blood pressure, cardiomyopathy, heart valves problems, or blocked coronary arteries - basically, anything that makes the heart work harder.
I always love a marble skeleton and this is one of my favourites. He’s in Sherborne, Gloucestershire. The monument dates to 1791, and is for James Lennox Dutton Esq. and his wife Jane. It depicts an angel trampling Death, and the sculptor was Richard Westmacott the Elder
January 13, 2026 at 8:01 PM
I always love a marble skeleton and this is one of my favourites. He’s in Sherborne, Gloucestershire. The monument dates to 1791, and is for James Lennox Dutton Esq. and his wife Jane. It depicts an angel trampling Death, and the sculptor was Richard Westmacott the Elder
I always love a marble skeleton and this is one of my favourites. He’s in Sherborne, Gloucestershire. The monument dates to 1791, and is for James Lennox Dutton Esq. and his wife Jane. It depicts an angel trampling Death, and the sculptor was Richard Westmacott the Elder
January 13, 2026 at 8:01 PM
I always love a marble skeleton and this is one of my favourites. He’s in Sherborne, Gloucestershire. The monument dates to 1791, and is for James Lennox Dutton Esq. and his wife Jane. It depicts an angel trampling Death, and the sculptor was Richard Westmacott the Elder
One of 22 panels in Gandino, Italy, showing an array of skeletons. Painted by Giovanni Radici between 1758 and 1771, some are prominent figures while others wear peasant garb. This skeleton, however, represents the king! Originally they were in the basilica to show that death doesn’t respect status
January 8, 2026 at 8:04 PM
One of 22 panels in Gandino, Italy, showing an array of skeletons. Painted by Giovanni Radici between 1758 and 1771, some are prominent figures while others wear peasant garb. This skeleton, however, represents the king! Originally they were in the basilica to show that death doesn’t respect status
In the extraordinary ossuary in Sedlec in the Czech Republic…
January 7, 2026 at 7:39 PM
In the extraordinary ossuary in Sedlec in the Czech Republic…
I’ve shown anatomical models in wax, plaster, papier-mâché, plastic, and even ivory before - but this one is made from wood! It is larger than life-sized and there are over one hundred different pieces so it can be taken apart to show the anatomical layers
January 6, 2026 at 7:48 PM
I’ve shown anatomical models in wax, plaster, papier-mâché, plastic, and even ivory before - but this one is made from wood! It is larger than life-sized and there are over one hundred different pieces so it can be taken apart to show the anatomical layers
The Tooth Worm! People only really understood the cause of tooth decay in 19thC. Some thought worms caused this pain by gnawing into the teeth.This replica of an 18thC French Ivory of the tooth worm is in the Medical History Museum in Ingolstadt last year. Reminds me I need to go to the dentist…
January 5, 2026 at 8:07 PM
The Tooth Worm! People only really understood the cause of tooth decay in 19thC. Some thought worms caused this pain by gnawing into the teeth.This replica of an 18thC French Ivory of the tooth worm is in the Medical History Museum in Ingolstadt last year. Reminds me I need to go to the dentist…
As the snows fall, I’m thinking back to the skulls in Naples…
January 4, 2026 at 7:18 PM
As the snows fall, I’m thinking back to the skulls in Naples…
A papier-mâché model showing the anatomy of the ear massively enlarged. These structures are involved for hearing and balance, and include the smallest bones in the body.
January 3, 2026 at 7:04 PM
A papier-mâché model showing the anatomy of the ear massively enlarged. These structures are involved for hearing and balance, and include the smallest bones in the body.
Happy new year everyone! Hope you’re all feeling a bit more upbeat than St Jerome here. This is one of my Christmas books - looking forward to getting stuck in!
January 1, 2026 at 7:56 PM
Happy new year everyone! Hope you’re all feeling a bit more upbeat than St Jerome here. This is one of my Christmas books - looking forward to getting stuck in!
Reposted by Cat Irving
A very happy new year to you from we who linger in the cold halls of Castle Pieterstein. Raise a glass when the clocks strike thirteen!
December 31, 2025 at 6:55 PM
A very happy new year to you from we who linger in the cold halls of Castle Pieterstein. Raise a glass when the clocks strike thirteen!
Going into Hogmanay with my subtlest of earrings. Happy New Year folks!
December 31, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Going into Hogmanay with my subtlest of earrings. Happy New Year folks!
Reposted by Cat Irving
Have you ever wanted to study with me?
I run some great online courses through different institutions for good prices and the next ones start in January!
Why not come join me?
I'm putting all the details below!
Come if you're interested in the Gothic, popular romance, or women's writing
I run some great online courses through different institutions for good prices and the next ones start in January!
Why not come join me?
I'm putting all the details below!
Come if you're interested in the Gothic, popular romance, or women's writing
December 30, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Have you ever wanted to study with me?
I run some great online courses through different institutions for good prices and the next ones start in January!
Why not come join me?
I'm putting all the details below!
Come if you're interested in the Gothic, popular romance, or women's writing
I run some great online courses through different institutions for good prices and the next ones start in January!
Why not come join me?
I'm putting all the details below!
Come if you're interested in the Gothic, popular romance, or women's writing