Abi Baker
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abibaker.bsky.social
Abi Baker
@abibaker.bsky.social
2.2K followers 410 following 42 posts
Museum archaeologist. Likes making things and colourful video games.

Author of: Troy on display: scepticism and wonder at Schliemann’s first exhibition https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/troy-on-display-9781350191365/
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abibaker.bsky.social
Got the deluxe fashion weeb book package for my birthday.
It’s all four volumes of Pattern Magic and both volumes of Thus Spake Rohan Kishibe, fanned out.
May 29, 2024 at 6:39 PM
abibaker.bsky.social
Once again, my carefully laid sewing plans are disrupted by the need to turn a cute fabric into a little top.
The frame is completely filled with black silk crepe de chine fabric, spread flat on a table top. The fabric is printed with a pattern of tumbling Greek vases, depicted in a blobby painted style. The figures on the vases race, fight lions and engage in more intimate activities
March 24, 2024 at 10:21 AM
abibaker.bsky.social
Unfortunately I was made aware of magical girl Schliemann last night and now I have to share her with you.
It’s an anime style drawing of a pretty girl with short red hair, a Tyrolean hat, a safari shirt, short shorts and thigh highs. She has a notebook and a rope and it looks like there might be a fluffy tail poking out of her shorts. Of course there are pink sparkles and a Trojan horse background.
February 7, 2024 at 10:43 AM
abibaker.bsky.social
Every curator has a small weird object they want to make people love and I’m proud this baby figurine made the big leagues
A screenshot from the Guardian article in the linked post. It shows a bronze figurine of a baby on all fours with head raised and crawling forward
December 24, 2023 at 10:23 AM
abibaker.bsky.social
Today I bought a felt dachshund in a Christmas hat for my friend who wants a real one, joked with the salesperson that it is probably more ethical to get her one that is just for Christmas. Then I turned around and saw the irl version walking towards us. #TinyJoys
A beautiful brown long haired dachshund, wearing a Christmas hat and a red knitted jumper with bands of reindeer and stars on it. The same dog sitting up for a treat. The dog is wearing a red Christmas jumper and a harness with a pattern of Christmas puddings.
December 18, 2023 at 10:42 PM
abibaker.bsky.social
I’m kicking off the Cambridge D caucus seminars for this term on Tuesday. Pls come along if you want to know why I got so obsessed with one exhibition that I wrote a whole book about it. www.classics.cam.ac.uk/seminars/d
It’s the cover of my book. There is a big illustration of two pots from Troy with stylised human faces. The text reads: Abigail Baker Troy on Display: Scepticism and Wonder at Schliemann’s first exhibition
October 7, 2023 at 6:17 PM
abibaker.bsky.social
Hope I don’t have nightmares about Big Head Vespasian
A marble bust of Vespasian, a bald man with a frown and a prominent forehead. I cannot stress enough how big it is. There is a normal size portrait next to him for scale and her whole upper chest and head are about the size of from chin to eyebrows.
October 6, 2023 at 5:55 PM
abibaker.bsky.social
We have fun in the CCN. Today we had a free tour of Return of the Gods and a great workshop on creative use of collections. Do join us if you work with UK classical collections.
A photo of the interior of the Return of the Gods exhibition at the World Museum, Liverpool. In the foreground, a marble, larger than life Aphrodite of Knidos from behind, lit up blue, more statues with bright coloured backgrounds on circular plinths are dotted through the dark exhibition space.
October 6, 2023 at 5:48 PM
abibaker.bsky.social
Draping test
Cropped selfie of a torso wearing a cream cotton bustier, with crinkled see through cotton draped around shoulders and waist. There js a twist in one shoulder to make a cap sleeve and the red drapes more loosely over the bust and right shoulder. It is a bit awkward- I’m clearly holding the fabric behind my back and still wearing a thimble.
October 1, 2023 at 7:19 PM
abibaker.bsky.social
In an almighty act of hubris, I am trying to turn the leftover fabric from the Islanders exhibition into some approximation of this Dior resort 2022 look.
The fabric in situ in the exhibition. It is a loose weave off white cotton, shown woven around brown pillars with carved stone objects and a map in the background. The dress I’m copying on the catwalk. It has a long see through gathered skirt, a gold belt and an asymmetrical draped bodice. It is styled with gold trainers.
September 30, 2023 at 9:27 AM