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![Achondroplasia. [A] Complete macerated skeleton, showing rhizomelic shortening of the extremities. [B] Detail of the skull, showing relative macrocephaly and retracted cranial base. Museum Vrolik, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 9](profile/Lucas-Boer/publication/351599921/figure/fig41/AS:1023631006109697@1621064058389/Achondroplasia-A-Complete-macerated-skeleton-showing-rhizomelic-shortening-of-the.png)
Achondroplasia. [A] Complete macerated skeleton, showing rhizomelic shortening of the extremities. [B] Detail of the skull, showing relative macrocephaly and retracted cranial base. Museum Vrolik, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 9
![Fig. 1. Osteogenesis imperfecta type II. [A] Complete macerated...](profile/Lucas-Boer/publication/351599921/figure/fig40/AS:1023631006134287@1621064058306/Osteogenesis-imperfecta-type-II-A-Complete-macerated-skeleton-showing-numerous_Q320.jpg)
![Fig. 1. Nondorsally united twins. [A] Skeleton of a xipho-omphalopagus...](profile/Lucas-Boer/publication/351599921/figure/fig46/AS:1023631006134291@1621064058751/Nondorsally-united-twins-A-Skeleton-of-a-xipho-omphalopagus-twins-united-at-the_Q320.jpg)
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... Instead, a modern display of human malformations should be question-inspiring and thought-provoking, thereby creating ground for extended inquiry (Boer, 2019). Solely exhibiting teratological specimens without any validated thought or message somehow explicitly implies that visitors are forced into its morbid aspect which is inherently present in any collection of human origin (Boer, de Rooy, et al., 2021). ...
The collection of the Narrenturm in Vienna houses and maintains more than 50,000
objects including approximately 1200 teratological specimens; making it one of the
biggest collections of specimens from human origin in Europe. The existence of this
magnificent collection―representing an important resource for dysmorphology
research, mostly awaiting contemporary diagnoses―is not widely known in the scientific community. Here, we show that the Narrenturm harbors a wealth of specimens with (exceptionally) rare congenital anomalies. These museums can be seen as physical repositories of human malformation, covering hundreds of years of dedicated collecting and preserving, thereby creating unique settings that can be used to expand our knowledge of developmental conditions that have to be preserved for future generations of scientists.
... When researchers do become interested is these collections, a portal to a hidden value can be seen waiting to be collected, therefore a substantial number of teratological specimens are still on (public) display within Dutch institutions and remain matter for social, educational and scientific programs (Boer, 2019). ...
Several teratologic collections containing specimens with malformations and syndromes are maintained in a number of Dutch anatomical museums. Technically, these are not works of art or antiquities. However, many have been depicted in illustrations of such high quality that they merit discussion here. We review a selection of specimens and their artistic portrayals which find their origin in four Dutch teratological collections. These museum specimens are more than just intriguing objects for the inquisitive museum visitor. As we will substantiate, these specimens—and their artistic depictions—can be used to find and describe rarely occurring birth defects, provide etiopathogenetic information and are a source of novel diagnosis. Additionally, we briefly discuss the ethical aspects and motivations of exhibiting these specimens, as these collections have to be protected meticulously by the new generation of museum professionals, who eventually determine what kind of past our future will have. It is therefore imperative that these collections of antique specimens are treasured as their importance is easily overlooked.
