Friday links: Hidden art, monster garden, animal furniture

Photographer: Robert Howlett | Isambard Kingdom Brunel, builder of the Great Eastern | ca. 1857-1858 | George Eastman House, eastmanhouse.org

Some stories we’ve been reading this week:

• While demolishing the floor of the dinosaur exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, a worker discovered a surprise.
• People in the 19th century started to do something very bizarre with their hunting trophies: They turned them into furniture. (Yes, there are pictures.)
• The Toast’s interpretations of art are always hilarious. Their take on depictions of death is no exception.
• The back story might be sad, but this Mannerist monster garden is amazing.
• The vast majority of art belonging to the world’s top art institutions is hidden from public view. Here’s why.

• Here is some cool stuff the newly reopened Cooper Hewitt did while they were closed. (No, it wasn’t getting rid of their hyphen.)
• So you loved Mr. Turner and now you want to see the art in person, but a trip to the UK is not quite in your budget. No sweat, here’s a handy list of places to find J.M.W. Turner’s work in America.
• We’re still in shock: King Tut’s beard fell off and was hastily glued back on with epoxy, damaging the mask further.