Cabinet of Curiosities at the University of Coimbra

With no explanatory captions to be found, the Cabinet of Curiosities at the Science Museum of the University of Coimbra artfully rearranges a 700-year-old museum collection.

Inspired by 18th-century curiosity cabinets, the display includes taxidermy (from monkeys and birds to manatees), natural history specimens preserved in jars, minerals, cultural artifacts, rare skeletons, and a stuffed donkey with six legs. 

Few museums worldwide would have such an extensive collection to draw from—the items on display represent less than 1 percent of the museum’s collection—and not many science museum displays are designed purely to invoke wonder.