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Vintage Photos of Bizarre World’s Fair Architecture

By Claire Cottrell on

A few weeks ago we took a look at some of the most bizarre buildings we’ve ever seen: the strange Soviet architecture that emerged during a fascinating era of extreme artistic inquiry fueled — as so many are — by social revolution. Now that we’re officially obsessed with far-out retro-future design, we literally fell off of our chair when we came across the progressive pavilions built for two World Expos that we would have loved to attend. From a building that looks like a giant blue Jell-O mold to a larger-than-life paper forest, click through to take a quick virtual tour of some of the most incredible structures we’ve ever seen. … Read More

Photography

Amazing Portraits of Lady Sword Swallowers From the 1800s

By Emily Temple on

We’ve always been fascinated by the idea of sword swallowers. First of all: how? And second of all: why? Luckily, we don’t really need to know. In these awesome photographs from The Sword Swallowing Hall of Fame Archive, which we spotted over at io9, iron-throated women working in the 1800s show off their ability to swallow swords (sometimes tens at a time), saws, daggers and bayonets — pretty much the sum total of things most people would rather not have in their mouths. Click through to check out some pretty incredible photos, and then go eat something really, really soft. … Read More

Photography

Strange Vintage Photos of Kids and Hidden Mothers

By Marina Galperina on

How do you make your toddler sit still for that holiday portrait? Parents since the 1800s have had the same issue, it seems, especially since tintypes required a much more patient sitting. This particular solution is a bit… eerie. Check out this gallery of kids’ very olde portraits and their “invisible mothers.” Spotted by Peta Pixel in a vintage photograph Flickr pool, these still children are held steady by guardians hidden under a thick drape or reaching into the frame with just one hand. Babies appear to float against a curtain of black, folded like wings. Little siblings seem apathetic, posing next to a woman, her face mercilessly scribbled into obscurity. What do you think of this yesteryear photo trend? … Read More