NB! · Aristocracy · Monarchies · Heritage
Alexandr Radayev
NB! · Aristocracy · Monarchies · Pop Culture
Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester, tries the Cartier Indian tiara with diamonds and pearls on a child
Archive · Moscow · Education · Society
Student Kogan's sinfonietta based on the Israeli anthem at the Gnesin Institute in 1953
In 1953 a student of the Gnessin State Institute of Music and Pedagogy, Kogan, wrote a sinfonietta as his diploma piece, and on examination it emerged that it was built upon the national anthem of Israel. This became the occasion for a further investigation, in the course of which it
NB! · Mores · Pop Culture
Crinolines Can Be Cruel
Archive · Observations · Society
In fairness, it should be said that at the time of this libel the State Symphony Orchestra of the USSR had 112 players, of whom 66 were Russians, 40 Jews and 6 others
In fairness, it should be said that at the time of this libel the State Symphony Orchestra of the USSR had 112 players, of whom 66 were Russians, 40 Jews and 6 others. In 1951-52 fourteen people were admitted to the orchestra, eleven of them Russians and three Jews.
NB! · Faith · The East · Ethnography · Humour
The Egyptian god Bes, protector of the home and hearth, and theories of the origin of his cult
This hideous dwarf with his tongue lolling out and his legs bowed is the Egyptian deity Bes, patron of house, home and hearth. The cult is believed to derive from the cat, though possibly from a shrewish mother-in-law
NB! · Faith · Heritage · Humour
At least 18 foreskins of Christ are known to the Church as relics of the Catholic world
The foreskin of Jesus is one of the mysterious relics of the Catholic world. The product of Christ's circumcision is otherwise known as the Holy Prepuce. One subtlety: the modern Church knows of no fewer than 18 prepuces
Books · Observations · Humour
Results of a poll of 758 participants, 537 of whom answered in the negative
Are you familiar with the works of the Holy Prepuce? anonymous poll. No – 537 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 71% Not yet, but I'd like to be – 170 👍👍 22% Yes, and I am impressed – 36 ▫️ 5% Yes, but not enthused – 15 ▫️ 2% 👥 758 people voted so far.
NB! · Archive · Books · People · Humour
Virginia *I do love a smoke* Woolf, photographed by her friend and patroness Lady Ottoline Morrell, for many years the benefactress of the Bloomsbury Group and the lover of Bertrand Russell and Dora Carrington
NB! · Architecture · Moscow · Observations · Heritage
Bronze plaques telling the stories of houses and lanes have been installed on Prechistenka
Bronze plaques telling the stories of houses and lanes have been installed on Prechistenka. At least some use has been found for all that paving
NB! · Museums · Mores · Humour
Victorian device for shoe fitting that hid everything above the ankle
A Victorian device for the discreet fitting of shoes. The salesman sees only the ankle; he cannot peer up the skirt or meet the lady's eye, and is obliged to gaze at nothing but the royal coat of arms
NB! · Books · Observations · Humour