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All Italy Modena Nautilus Antiques and Old Oddities
Nautilus Antiques and Old Oddities is permanently closed.

This entry remains in the Atlas as a record of its history, but it is no longer accessible to visitors.

Nautilus Antiques and Old Oddities

David Sedaris called it "The greatest shop in the world."

Modena, Italy

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Nautilus Antiques and Old Oddities.   http://www.thenautilus.it/Shop.html
Nautilus Antiques and Old Oddities.   http://www.thenautilus.it/Shop.html
Nautilus Antiques and Old Oddities.   http://www.thenautilus.it/Shop.html
Nautilus Antiques and Old Oddities.   http://www.thenautilus.it/Shop.html
Nautilus Antiques and Old Oddities.   http://www.thenautilus.it/Shop.html
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About

With the tagline "Antique Scientific Instruments and Old Oddities" Nautilus, an amazing little shop in Turin, Italy, feels more like an 18th-century wunderkammer than a modern-day shop.

Walrus tusks and German botanical models vie for space with Phrenological collections of skulls and trepanning forceps. Dividing their collection between Medicalia, Artificialia, and Naturalia as the curio cabinets of old once did, the owners are clearly as interested in collecting and preserving as they are selling.

The store, which is open by appointment only, features some incredible specimens, including everything from preserved deformed fetuses to sideshow gaffs to antique medical anatomical models. Nautilus also has some serious fans including writer David Sederis. In his words:

"The greatest shop in the world is... called Nautilus... It’s incredible. They had actual medical photos—old, sepia medical photos. They had these things that came from a dermatological museum in Dresden that were beautiful, wax models of flesh on the tongue and a blood infection. They were beautiful, wax, life-like sized models in boxes with glass fronts with the German writing in the background. It was all for sale: a Siamese twin skeleton, they had medical Jesus, Jesus’ head in a box—it was more about what going on medically with his wounds. I got a taxidermy mole, an old one with beautiful writing on the mount."

We couldn't agree more.

Update: Nautilus Antiques and Old Oddities has permanently closed.

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Edited By

Martin, hrnick, Idume Studio, Lakehurst...

  • Martin
  • hrnick
  • Idume Studio
  • Lakehurst
  • paolos
  • michelle

Published

June 17, 2009

Updated

April 5, 2022

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Sources
  • http://www.thenautilus.it/about/
  • http://bizzarrobazar.com/2010/08/01/speciale-nautilus/
Nautilus Antiques and Old Oddities
Bellezia 15/b
Modena, 41121
Italy
44.648371, 10.927403
Visit Website
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