Catch iconic collection of the weird and wonderful
The Ripley collection represents over 95 years of collecting by Robert Ripley and his corporate heirs.
Prepared to be amazed when the iconic Ripley’s Believe It Or Not show hits Toti for a stop at the Galleria Mall from 3 to 26 June.
The foundation of the Ripley collection was set by Robert L Ripley (1890 to 1949), a cartoonist, explorer, reporter, adventurer and collector who traveled to 201 countries in 35 years, to seek out the odd, the unusual and unexplained.
The Ripley collection represents over 95 years of collecting by Robert Ripley and his corporate heirs.
The foundation of the more than 25,000-piece collection was gathered and assembled by Ripley himself, on his many travels around the world, but the Ripley’s Entertainment staff today continues to add new pieces to the collection, almost daily.
There are exhibits from the microscopic world, and the worlds of science and computer technologies. Plus, artifacts that have been flown in space, including flags flown on the moon, and meteorites from Mars.
Ripley was intrigued with animal oddities, poor creatures dealt strange fates by Mother Nature. The Ripley collection today includes a horse with three legs, two-headed calves, pigs, rabbits, turtles and kittens. There are albinos, giant snakes and alligators, a whole menagerie of multi-winged and multi-limbed birds, and even a headless chicken.
Ripley was also fascinated by people, especially those with extreme cases of human growth.
Among Ripley’s most exotic treasures are fascinating cultural artifacts acquired in the primitive outposts of civilization, rare objects like decorated cannibal skulls and shrunken heads.
Every Ripley Auditorium houses a gallery of fine art, including wall paintings, mosaics and three-dimensional sculptures. At Ripley’s, however, the artist’s medium is often more remarkable than the actual artwork. Many of Ripley’s best artwork has been created from unusual things, including ordinary household objects like popsicle sticks, cigarette wrappers, dog hair, black beans, jelly beans, laundry lint, toast, toothpicks and match sticks.
“Imagine Galleria Mall full of oddities, in a uniquely designed display situated throughout the mall, showcasing a first ever in South Africa,” said Galleria Mall’s general manager, Kurt Hoggan.
“We are super excited to host Ripley’s. The exhibition is free and open to the public as per the trading hours of the mall.”
