13 Things I Found on the Internet Today (Vol. 713)

October 8, 2024

1. An antique railway car miniature made by a retired French postman

A wooden-framed railway car is finished with tinted straw in decorative manner to create wall murals, carpets, inlay furnishings, and walls in the interior, and slatted boards and window frames on the exterior. When opened, the interior room has built-in furnishings including table, reclining sofa with pillows, desk and work table with lamp and telephone, and a carpet is attached to the floor. The exterior has cast iron wheels, lamps, and other railway car apparatus. Made by J. Gardon, retired courier of Paris mail, made in Saint Maur-les-Fosses, May 25, 1915. The French postal service historically used train cars known as post wagons, mostly integrated into passenger trains with sleeping and resting areas as well as office space. This unique and wonderfully-imaginative piece, with maker’s provenance, was one man’s celebration of his earlier working history.

Sold at auction via Theriaults.

2. A creative reuse of an old radio

By artist AH Smith.

3. Vintage library infographics from the 1930s and 1940s

Designed by Peabody Visual Aids in the 30s and 40s of the XX century, they were found by Char Booth in a throw-away pile at her library school in 2003.

Found on Flickr.

4. A reporter’s charming take on a Paris foodie story

Very imaginative reporting. Read the article here.

5. A country house in the middle of Paris, for sale

Right by the Bon Marché department store, it’s hard to believe places like this still exist in Paris. Found on Sotheby’s, asking 15 million euros. Gulp.

6. Meet the ‘giant’ river crabs that live beneath Rome’s ancient ruins

Rome’s ancient ruins are more than just a tourist spot, they’re also home to Italy’s only indigenous freshwater crabs – a species almost as old as the city itself.

Full article found here on the National Geographic.

7. Strong candidate for the World’s most beautiful elevator

In the Casa Antoni Segarra, 1904-1907, Barcelona, by architect Josep Masdeu Puigdemasa (1852-1930). Found here.

8. Indigenous bark paintings by Australian artist by Peter Marralwanga

Peter Marralwanga (1916–1987) was a member of the Kardbam clan of the Bininj people. He is best known for his creation of paintings both on paper and bark. These works reflect the artistic practices of his elders and community, featuring elements of ceremonial and spiritual creatures alongside the cross-hatching pattern known as rarrk. More found here.

9. Painting found in basement confirmed as original Picasso worth millions

A painting discovered by a junk dealer in the basement of an Italian villa six decades ago is actually the work of Pablo Picasso and could sell for millions, according to experts. Luigi Lo Rosso used to spend his days combing abandoned houses and landfills in search of treasure to sell in the family’s pawn shop in Pompeii, Italy. In 1962, he found a rolled-up canvas with an asymmetrical painting of a woman in the basement of the villa on the nearby island of Capri. The painting is now believed to be a distorted image of French photographer and poet Dora Maar, who was Picasso’s lover.

Full article found on CNN.

10. Stranger asks you…

Found on Twitter (X).

11. Some good “words of the day”

Found on Swiss Miss.

12. George Bernard Shaw ‘s writing hut, built on a turntable so that he could move with the sunlight

He called it “London” so that he could avoid visitors by having staff say “He’s not here, he is in London”. Nancy Astor once banged on the door, saying “Come out of there, you old fool. You’ve written enough nonsense in your life!”

Shaw’s writing hut included “an electric heater, a typewriter, a bunk for Napoleonic naps and a telephone to the house which could be used for emergencies such as lunch: surely everything a writer could need.”

You can visit his home, “Shaw Corner”, which has been preserved by The National Trust.