Things in Jars

The amazing bottled specimens seen here were all photographed in the Darwin Centre, London part of the Natural History Museum. It is named in recognition of the work of Charles Darwin the English naturalist born in 1809. Images are from behind the scenes of the museum, some wonderful examples from their collection of 450,000 specimens, all pickled in jars, and built up over more than 300 years, including some which came from Darwin’s celebrated voyage on HMS Beagle. Not surprisingly, the collecting methods today have changed significantly since the days of the Victorians, who collected all manner of weird and wonderful organisms and objects which they conserved using different jars, seals and labels.

“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.” – Charles Darwin, 1809 –1882