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Selling the King?

During 1919-21, when we were broke, we started selling off parts of our collections, including a portrait of James II which went to The Crown!

Curatorial Curiosities

Coco-de-Mer (<i>Lodoicea maldivica</i>)

Seedy humour:The fruit of the Coco-de-Mer (Lodoicea maldivica) contains the largest seed known. 40–50 cm in diameter and weighing 15–30 kg, the fruit requires 6–7 years to mature. The shape of the seed has been said to be suggestive of parts of human anatomy. Coincidentally, the inflorescence of the palm is rather phallic.