Startling Lady of Gore
@postnatodepression.bsky.social
She/her. Lesbian. I post New Zealand ephemera and cool things I find on the Internet Archive. Not affiliated with Archives New Zealand or the National Library.
Gam zu l'tova.
Gam zu l'tova.
Pinned
'Still life study of a pickled fish and snake with a human skull.'
Watercolour by by Bertram Potter (brother of Beatrix Potter), April 1889.
Both Potters dissected & sometimes killed animals to study their anatomy. Possibly Bertram pickled the snake & fish himself.
Ref AR.4:406-2006, V & A Museum.
Watercolour by by Bertram Potter (brother of Beatrix Potter), April 1889.
Both Potters dissected & sometimes killed animals to study their anatomy. Possibly Bertram pickled the snake & fish himself.
Ref AR.4:406-2006, V & A Museum.
January 30, 2026 at 5:08 AM
'Still life study of a pickled fish and snake with a human skull.'
Watercolour by by Bertram Potter (brother of Beatrix Potter), April 1889.
Both Potters dissected & sometimes killed animals to study their anatomy. Possibly Bertram pickled the snake & fish himself.
Ref AR.4:406-2006, V & A Museum.
Watercolour by by Bertram Potter (brother of Beatrix Potter), April 1889.
Both Potters dissected & sometimes killed animals to study their anatomy. Possibly Bertram pickled the snake & fish himself.
Ref AR.4:406-2006, V & A Museum.
'An Idea by the Cubic Metre Skeleton Range'
Minale Tattersfield, 1980s.
Ref E.178-2011, V & A Museum.
Minale Tattersfield, 1980s.
Ref E.178-2011, V & A Museum.
January 30, 2026 at 4:15 AM
'An Idea by the Cubic Metre Skeleton Range'
Minale Tattersfield, 1980s.
Ref E.178-2011, V & A Museum.
Minale Tattersfield, 1980s.
Ref E.178-2011, V & A Museum.
'The Old Shepherd's Chief Mourner'
1869 engraving by Frederick Hollyer, based on a painting by Sir Edwin Landseer.
Ref E.165-1970, V & A Museum.
1869 engraving by Frederick Hollyer, based on a painting by Sir Edwin Landseer.
Ref E.165-1970, V & A Museum.
January 30, 2026 at 3:30 AM
'The Old Shepherd's Chief Mourner'
1869 engraving by Frederick Hollyer, based on a painting by Sir Edwin Landseer.
Ref E.165-1970, V & A Museum.
1869 engraving by Frederick Hollyer, based on a painting by Sir Edwin Landseer.
Ref E.165-1970, V & A Museum.
Portrait of 'Mere', circa 1900.
Photographed by William Henry Thomas Partington, probably at Whanganui.
Ref 1/1-003085-G, National Library of New Zealand.
Photographed by William Henry Thomas Partington, probably at Whanganui.
Ref 1/1-003085-G, National Library of New Zealand.
January 30, 2026 at 3:20 AM
Portrait of 'Mere', circa 1900.
Photographed by William Henry Thomas Partington, probably at Whanganui.
Ref 1/1-003085-G, National Library of New Zealand.
Photographed by William Henry Thomas Partington, probably at Whanganui.
Ref 1/1-003085-G, National Library of New Zealand.
Te Mahia Wi Parata (centre, with feathers in her hair) and female relatives, including Mrs Eve Parata (with scarf), sitting on the porch of Whakarongotai Marae.
Photo taken circa 1908 by Harold Stevens Hislop.
Ref PA1-o-229-36-4, National Library of New Zealand.
Photo taken circa 1908 by Harold Stevens Hislop.
Ref PA1-o-229-36-4, National Library of New Zealand.
January 30, 2026 at 3:17 AM
Te Mahia Wi Parata (centre, with feathers in her hair) and female relatives, including Mrs Eve Parata (with scarf), sitting on the porch of Whakarongotai Marae.
Photo taken circa 1908 by Harold Stevens Hislop.
Ref PA1-o-229-36-4, National Library of New Zealand.
Photo taken circa 1908 by Harold Stevens Hislop.
Ref PA1-o-229-36-4, National Library of New Zealand.
Reposted by Startling Lady of Gore
Report: Roast Capon, Flagon of Sack Still Popular Among Rotund Drunks
Spain Probably Up to Some Papist Bullshit Again
Area Boy Enjoying Playing Women on Stage A Bit Too Much
Priest Hole Now Mostly Used for Hiding Pornographic Italian Woodcuts
Spain Probably Up to Some Papist Bullshit Again
Area Boy Enjoying Playing Women on Stage A Bit Too Much
Priest Hole Now Mostly Used for Hiding Pornographic Italian Woodcuts
January 28, 2026 at 5:05 PM
Report: Roast Capon, Flagon of Sack Still Popular Among Rotund Drunks
Spain Probably Up to Some Papist Bullshit Again
Area Boy Enjoying Playing Women on Stage A Bit Too Much
Priest Hole Now Mostly Used for Hiding Pornographic Italian Woodcuts
Spain Probably Up to Some Papist Bullshit Again
Area Boy Enjoying Playing Women on Stage A Bit Too Much
Priest Hole Now Mostly Used for Hiding Pornographic Italian Woodcuts
Edward Carpenter's description of 'the extreme type' of lesbian. I've definitely dated this woman.
From "The Intermediate Sex", 1912.
From "The Intermediate Sex", 1912.
January 29, 2026 at 6:52 AM
Edward Carpenter's description of 'the extreme type' of lesbian. I've definitely dated this woman.
From "The Intermediate Sex", 1912.
From "The Intermediate Sex", 1912.
Memento mori pendant. Germany, ca. 1660.
The coffin opens to disclose an enamelled skeleton, the initials I.C.S. above its head and the inscription 'HIE. LIEG. ICH. VND. WARTH. AVF. DIH' (Here I lie and wait for you).
Ref M.74-1975, V & A Museum.
The coffin opens to disclose an enamelled skeleton, the initials I.C.S. above its head and the inscription 'HIE. LIEG. ICH. VND. WARTH. AVF. DIH' (Here I lie and wait for you).
Ref M.74-1975, V & A Museum.
January 29, 2026 at 2:49 AM
Memento mori pendant. Germany, ca. 1660.
The coffin opens to disclose an enamelled skeleton, the initials I.C.S. above its head and the inscription 'HIE. LIEG. ICH. VND. WARTH. AVF. DIH' (Here I lie and wait for you).
Ref M.74-1975, V & A Museum.
The coffin opens to disclose an enamelled skeleton, the initials I.C.S. above its head and the inscription 'HIE. LIEG. ICH. VND. WARTH. AVF. DIH' (Here I lie and wait for you).
Ref M.74-1975, V & A Museum.
Ivory chaplet, probably French, ca. 1530.
The beads are carved with figures of the Virgin Mary and St John the Evangelist, the joined heads of a man, woman and Death, and images of the Pope, kings and figures in aristocratic dress.
Ref 281-1867, V & A Museum.
The beads are carved with figures of the Virgin Mary and St John the Evangelist, the joined heads of a man, woman and Death, and images of the Pope, kings and figures in aristocratic dress.
Ref 281-1867, V & A Museum.
January 29, 2026 at 2:44 AM
Ivory chaplet, probably French, ca. 1530.
The beads are carved with figures of the Virgin Mary and St John the Evangelist, the joined heads of a man, woman and Death, and images of the Pope, kings and figures in aristocratic dress.
Ref 281-1867, V & A Museum.
The beads are carved with figures of the Virgin Mary and St John the Evangelist, the joined heads of a man, woman and Death, and images of the Pope, kings and figures in aristocratic dress.
Ref 281-1867, V & A Museum.
Badge, probably British, ca. 1960-1980.
Ref E.608-2002, V & A Museum.
Ref E.608-2002, V & A Museum.
January 29, 2026 at 2:40 AM
Badge, probably British, ca. 1960-1980.
Ref E.608-2002, V & A Museum.
Ref E.608-2002, V & A Museum.
"Edward Lear Aged 73 and a Half and His Cat Foss, Aged 16" Drawing by Edward Lear, 1885.
No photographs survive of Foss, as he jumped out of Lear's arms on the only occasion when one was to be taken.
No photographs survive of Foss, as he jumped out of Lear's arms on the only occasion when one was to be taken.
January 29, 2026 at 12:55 AM
"Edward Lear Aged 73 and a Half and His Cat Foss, Aged 16" Drawing by Edward Lear, 1885.
No photographs survive of Foss, as he jumped out of Lear's arms on the only occasion when one was to be taken.
No photographs survive of Foss, as he jumped out of Lear's arms on the only occasion when one was to be taken.
"Is it too fanciful to suppose that the centrosome [...] is the analogue of the radiating force in human courtship which so strangely sifts out and remoulds the elements of the lover's personality?"
The Drama of Love and Death
Edward Carpenter, 1912
The Drama of Love and Death
Edward Carpenter, 1912
January 29, 2026 at 12:37 AM
"Is it too fanciful to suppose that the centrosome [...] is the analogue of the radiating force in human courtship which so strangely sifts out and remoulds the elements of the lover's personality?"
The Drama of Love and Death
Edward Carpenter, 1912
The Drama of Love and Death
Edward Carpenter, 1912
Reposted by Startling Lady of Gore
Let's remember Judith Collins for that time Danyl performed the Voight-Kampff test on her to prove it was actually her running her Twitter account.
January 28, 2026 at 5:19 AM
Let's remember Judith Collins for that time Danyl performed the Voight-Kampff test on her to prove it was actually her running her Twitter account.
Reposted by Startling Lady of Gore
Praying Judith was one of the all time greats on the list of "pathetically desperate moves in NZ politics", and for this I thank her I suppose
January 28, 2026 at 5:26 AM
Praying Judith was one of the all time greats on the list of "pathetically desperate moves in NZ politics", and for this I thank her I suppose
Reposted by Startling Lady of Gore
What I love about this deleted tweet is how unforced the error is, how opposing FGM is such a universal slam dunk and Crusher completely fucked it into the sun.
January 28, 2026 at 5:36 AM
What I love about this deleted tweet is how unforced the error is, how opposing FGM is such a universal slam dunk and Crusher completely fucked it into the sun.
Reposted by Startling Lady of Gore
replying “my husband is samoan, so talofa” over and over. all time classic line
January 28, 2026 at 5:15 AM
replying “my husband is samoan, so talofa” over and over. all time classic line
Reposted by Startling Lady of Gore
But as the Minister of Finance told us, we shouldn't take unemployment personally. So is it working for the Crown accounts? Er no - the OBEGAL deficit forecast for 25/26 has increased at every update. Turns out that totally unfunded tax cuts can be quite expensive!
January 27, 2026 at 10:14 PM
But as the Minister of Finance told us, we shouldn't take unemployment personally. So is it working for the Crown accounts? Er no - the OBEGAL deficit forecast for 25/26 has increased at every update. Turns out that totally unfunded tax cuts can be quite expensive!
Reposted by Startling Lady of Gore
January 27, 2026 at 10:32 PM
wish booktube was around in the 19th century. BookWaxCylinder or whatever, i would be so hyped for the latest installment of Walt Whitman drama
January 27, 2026 at 10:29 AM
wish booktube was around in the 19th century. BookWaxCylinder or whatever, i would be so hyped for the latest installment of Walt Whitman drama
Reposted by Startling Lady of Gore
I read that "Why Gen Z doesn't like Harry Potter" article and trying to imagine someone writing 70 years ago a "Reasons Gen X are ignoring Biggles" article for the Times
January 27, 2026 at 8:16 AM
I read that "Why Gen Z doesn't like Harry Potter" article and trying to imagine someone writing 70 years ago a "Reasons Gen X are ignoring Biggles" article for the Times
Reposted by Startling Lady of Gore
Actually, this is famously a thing you can do with eggs
January 27, 2026 at 7:29 AM
Actually, this is famously a thing you can do with eggs
Portrait of Ruta Raniera.
Foy Brothers, Thames, 1872.
Ref PA3-0073, National Library of New Zealand.
Foy Brothers, Thames, 1872.
Ref PA3-0073, National Library of New Zealand.
January 27, 2026 at 3:53 AM
Portrait of Ruta Raniera.
Foy Brothers, Thames, 1872.
Ref PA3-0073, National Library of New Zealand.
Foy Brothers, Thames, 1872.
Ref PA3-0073, National Library of New Zealand.
Josiah Wedgwood's trial tray for jasperware, 1773.
Each trial is carefully numbered to correspond with an entry in Josiah’s experiment books, which were written in code because of the risk of industrial espionage.
Ref WE.4241-2014, V & A Museum.
Each trial is carefully numbered to correspond with an entry in Josiah’s experiment books, which were written in code because of the risk of industrial espionage.
Ref WE.4241-2014, V & A Museum.
January 27, 2026 at 3:30 AM
Josiah Wedgwood's trial tray for jasperware, 1773.
Each trial is carefully numbered to correspond with an entry in Josiah’s experiment books, which were written in code because of the risk of industrial espionage.
Ref WE.4241-2014, V & A Museum.
Each trial is carefully numbered to correspond with an entry in Josiah’s experiment books, which were written in code because of the risk of industrial espionage.
Ref WE.4241-2014, V & A Museum.
"SHE WON'T TALK! Will you?"
American poster circa 1943, urging its audience not to accidentally give Nazis information.
Ref E.1409-2004, V & A Museum.
American poster circa 1943, urging its audience not to accidentally give Nazis information.
Ref E.1409-2004, V & A Museum.
January 27, 2026 at 3:14 AM
"SHE WON'T TALK! Will you?"
American poster circa 1943, urging its audience not to accidentally give Nazis information.
Ref E.1409-2004, V & A Museum.
American poster circa 1943, urging its audience not to accidentally give Nazis information.
Ref E.1409-2004, V & A Museum.