Bes, The Egyptian Dwarf God' Bes was an important diety in ancient Egypt. He was concerned with fertility and child birth and looking after children and mankind. Worshipped at househild shrines. Also in charge of protection against wild animals like crocodiles Karin van der Plas 2010 85cm x 55cm x 4cm  | 'The World's Strangest Married Couple' Emmit had Cocodile skin and Percilla was a bearded lady. They performed acts and Percilla had a trained Chimpanzee doing tricks. Karin van der Plas 2010 85cm x 55cm x 4cm 
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Madame Elise, The World's Strongest Woman' Karin van der Plas 2010 100cm x 45cm x 4cm | 'The Feejee Mermaid' The Feejee Mermaid was a common feature of sideshows, which was presented as the mummified body of a creature that was supposedly half mammal and half fish, a version of traditional mermaid stories. Karin van der Plas 2010 100cm x 45cm x 4cm |
'Maximus, the Roman Giant Emperor' Maximus was between 7 and 8 feet tall. He enjoyed wrestling with fellow soldiers two at the time. They were less impressed with this hobby and killed maximus in his sleep. In Roman times they actually had a 'Freak Market' called 'Forum Morionum' where people bought and sold dwarfs Karin van der Plas 2010 240cm x 55xm x 4cm | Detail of Maximus |
| 'The Blue Girl of the 19th Century.' One of the oddest skin disorders was discovered by doctors in an unnamed 16 year old laundress in the 19th Century. Her face, neck and upper part of her chest had turned completely blue. The strange coloration could be rubbed off but would then return again. The medical experts were baffled. The girl resembled an ice maiden but was otherwise healthy. Karin van der Plas 2010 100cm x 45xm x 4cm | 'Conjoined Twins' The birth of conjoined twins used to be thought of as a punishment of God or the bringer of bad luck. The only way conjoined twins were able to make a living was by joining a freak show or side show and circus and travel all over the world.. Often they had to learn a skill in music like dancing, singing or playing an instrument to perform and entertain the audience. Famous twins Cheng and Eng managed to marry and have children. They used to live in each other’s house one month at the time. Karin van der Plas 2010 85cm x 55cm x 4cm |
'Myrtle Corbin, the woman with four legs' Myrtle Corbin was born May 12, 1868 in Lincoln County, Tennessee. She was what the medical people called a dipygus. That means she was double from the waist down. She had two pelvises and four legs. When Myrtle was about five weeks old, for a small fee you could visit William Corbin and have a look at his four-legged daughter.
As Myrtle got older she grew to depend on her outside legs for walking and support. Her inside legs never developed to any degree although
they retained sensation and could be moved about. Her right foot was clubbed. The smaller legs only had three toes on each foot.
She married James C. Bicknell who was a doctor and they had five children. She continued to perform with Ringling Brothers and appeared at Coney Island. Myrtle died on 6 May 1928. Karin van der Plas 2010 85cm x 55cm x 4cm | 'The Front of a Freak Show' Karin van der Plas 2010 55cm x 45cm x 4cm |
