Laura Sellers
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laurasellers.bsky.social
Laura Sellers
@laurasellers.bsky.social
6.6K followers 1.1K following 67 posts
Historian of medicine, science, forensics & prisons. Freelance curator and heritage consultant. Former curator at Thackray Museum of Medicine. She/her
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laurasellers.bsky.social
No context museum objects
A cream brick pillar with a white plastic sign reading 'miscellaneous tumours' in black font
May 11, 2025 at 7:48 PM
laurasellers.bsky.social
Potential candidate for the least appetising recipe: Party Cheese Log.
Hand written recipe for "party cheese log" which reads "3 cocktail gerkins finely chopped. 4ozs grated cheddar cheese. 8ozs cream cheese. 1/4 level teaspoon mustard. 1 level tablespoon mayonnaise. 1 teaspoon grated onion. 1/2 level teaspoon salt. Pepper. 2oz chopped walnuts. 1. Mix together all ingredients, except walnuts, very thoroughly. 2. Turn mixture onto a sheet of greaseproof paper, shape into a log, wrap in foil and refrigerate until requires. 3. To serve remove papers and coat evenly with walnuts. 4. This dish can be kept in fridge for a month."
March 18, 2025 at 7:47 PM
laurasellers.bsky.social
Apparently laughing after 9pm is offensive
Black and white cat with long white whiskers lining in a yellow blanket looking disgruntled
February 13, 2025 at 10:51 PM
laurasellers.bsky.social
This 1923 model shows the Stanley Road, Leeds, disinfestation unit. It was an epitome of public health programmes at the time.
A house shaped model showing a cross section of the building. On the right is a brown panelled door and the left a large circular door with pipes coming from the top. The walls are off white.
February 12, 2025 at 3:38 PM
laurasellers.bsky.social
There's something amazing about very tiny things.
A museum display of a miniature metal operating table, a miniature ceramic chamber pot and two pairs of miniature glasses with cases.
January 27, 2025 at 8:05 PM
laurasellers.bsky.social
With two kids under three objects stuck in throats are a real risk. Luckily there's an infallible recipe for that with two simple ingredients, gunpowder and your favourite alcoholic drink...
A historic hand written recipe on off white paper. It reads: "A recipe for a pin or anything yhay sticks in the throat. Take a spoonful of Gunpowder and mix it in a porridge of beer, ale or what you like best. When it's well stirred from the bottom drink itt off and itt will carry down with itt whatever troubles you."
December 9, 2024 at 9:53 PM
laurasellers.bsky.social
It takes a certain amount of confidence to publish multiple pictures of yourself in leopard print pants.
Two black and white photos printed in a book showing a muscular white man with dark curly hair and mustache, wearing leopard print pants and Greek style sandals. He's shown full length, in profile on the left and straight on in the righthand picture, he's flexing his muscles in both showing classic body builder poses.
December 3, 2024 at 8:07 PM
laurasellers.bsky.social
Unnerving dolls, every museum needs them.

These ones were actually made for paediatrics to explain what to expect during/after surgery to patients and their parents.
5 small plastic dolls wearing handmade clothes, bandages and braces and one large fabric doll with yellow woolen hair, a purple jumper and red trousers sat together on s desk.
November 26, 2024 at 4:03 PM
laurasellers.bsky.social
Introducing the work of Lorina Bulwer.
A hand stitched sampler in many colours (including greens pinks, yellows and blacks) with continuous prose, written in capitals, some of which is underlined. In the centre of the image is a pink box with the words "Prejudice Pink-Think Principle" hand stitched on it.
November 22, 2024 at 12:47 PM
laurasellers.bsky.social
More cat-a-logs should be printed. This edition is from 1967, manufactures of sutures and wound closing devices, Ethicon, provided pictures of cats and practising nurses captioned them. Because why not?
Front cover of a catalogue showing a black and white picture of a light coloured cat with its mouth open and a frustrated expression. The cat is captioned 'Oh yeah! Well hold your own retractor then!' Underneath on a brown background it reads 'ETHICON. CAT-A-LOG' A double spread of an open booklet. The left page shows a black and white image of a fluffy white cat in profile looking off into the distance. It's captioned 'Sister told me not to take my eyes off the drip'. The right hand page has a black and white photo of two cats upright on thier back legs thier front paws are making contact. It is captioned 'I said "lumbar" not "rumba"'
November 17, 2024 at 9:06 PM
laurasellers.bsky.social
For those of you considering a career in museums, this could be your life...
Photo taken in a museum store showing boxes in the background and a white, brown haired woman in jeans and a cream jumper, crouched down and polishing the lower half of a naked, gold male statue. (It's actually for acupuncture)
November 15, 2024 at 2:49 PM
laurasellers.bsky.social
Cosmo and Tux say hi
Black cat lounging upside down on a miniature green armchair. He has yellow eyes and vampire-esq teeth. Black cat with yellow eyes and white fur on his face and chest ,sat outside in strawberry plants.
November 11, 2024 at 10:26 PM
laurasellers.bsky.social
Throw back to our museum redevelopment when we had to move mannequins around the building.
A realistic mannequin of a white, 30-something, red-headed male in Victorian costume, including black trousers and a navy jacket, holding a surgical knife in his left hand and frowning.
November 11, 2024 at 10:16 PM
laurasellers.bsky.social
Visitor feedback is always appreciated.
A white piece of paper pegged to a rope with the outline of a tshirt with the words "I was my bum" handwritten in pencil on it.
November 11, 2024 at 10:35 AM
laurasellers.bsky.social
Popped into the Grant Museum recently. They've got some beautiful new interpretation and interactives. But it's the disappointment oozing from this old label that gives me joy (solidarity with collections managers everywhere).
November 10, 2024 at 11:13 PM
laurasellers.bsky.social
How I feel after doing a month of all night cluster feeding with a new baby
January 18, 2024 at 1:24 AM
laurasellers.bsky.social
Always good to have useful recipes to hand just incase
December 18, 2023 at 1:12 PM
laurasellers.bsky.social
Hair goals?
October 14, 2023 at 6:38 PM
laurasellers.bsky.social
Something about waiting for your mixture to be "blood warm" just makes it less appetising. Even if the recipe is "excellent"
A hand written recipe in a notebook for an 'excellent diet drink'
September 2, 2023 at 11:48 AM
laurasellers.bsky.social
Historic recipes, I too often need a cough medicine and to waterproof leather on the same day
August 24, 2023 at 9:01 AM
laurasellers.bsky.social
Looking through a book illustrating surgical procedures, didn't expect a surgeon strip tease
August 23, 2023 at 10:15 AM
laurasellers.bsky.social
Calm down Bridlington
Sweet shop shelves with explicit shaped sweets
August 15, 2023 at 10:20 PM
laurasellers.bsky.social
Hello biology lab
A black and white photo of a biology lab in the early 20th century. Men and women are working at long benches.
August 14, 2023 at 5:57 PM
laurasellers.bsky.social
😬
August 12, 2023 at 7:32 AM
laurasellers.bsky.social
I'm supposed to be interested in the medical technology but am way more interested in the fashion and sideburns
August 11, 2023 at 8:15 PM