PHOTOS: Unusual items found in unclaimed airport baggage
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Unclaimed Baggage Each year, thousands of airline baggage items are lost. A lot of it ends up at a one-of-a-kind store in Scottsboro, Alabama. In operation for more than 50 years, it boasts 40,000 square feet of unclaimed items airlines have not been able to reunite with their former owners. (Unclaimed Baggage)
Unclaimed baggage The items can be rather unusual! (Unclaimed Baggage)
Unclaimed baggage and bizarre! (Unclaimed Baggage)
Unclaimed baggage That's a Kobe Bryant Autographed Epoca The Tree of Ecrof. (Unclaimed Baggage)
Unclaimed baggage Awesome!
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Unclaimed baggage Explore “The Museum of Oddities,” a collection of the strangest items discovered in lost bags over the years and the stories behind them.
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Unclaimed baggage Here are some of the most unusual items they've found over the years from A-Z. See more at https://www.unclaimedbaggage.com/pages/how-it-works (Unclaimed Baggage)
Unclaimed Baggage Aluminized Fire Suit
Take a look at this hot find. This shiny, silver aluminized fire suit is a protective garment used to shield firefighters from ambient heat. (Unclaimed Baggage)
Unclaimed Baggage Bear Pelt Packed in Salt
Hunters and taxidermists salt animal pelts to preserve them after a hunt, but there are specific methods they must follow. It can take almost two weeks to properly cure an animal hide, so it's possible the bear pelt had not been completely cured before it was lost in transit. It smelled terrible! (Unclaimed Baggage)
Unclaimed Baggage Camera from the Space Shuttle
This modified Nikon F camera from NASA's Space Shuttle program is an Unclaimed Baggage find that's truly out of this world! This model was one of the earliest iterations of the digital camera--and only three were made. Because of its rarity, it was sent back to NASA. (Unclaimed Baggage)
Unclaimed Baggage Dung Chen from Tibet
This 10-foot long Tibetan dung chen is a ceremonial horn that's often used in religious rituals. (Unclaimed Baggage)
Unclaimed Baggage Egyptian Burial Mask
One of the most incredible finds at Unclaimed Baggage was this burial mask. It arrived in a well-traveled Gucci suitcase that was filled with artifacts from the time of Moses--about 1500 BC. The artifacts were sold through Christie's Auctions and Private Sales in New York. (Unclaimed Baggage)
Unclaimed Baggage "Flirting" Fan from the 1800s
This hand-painted "flirting fan" from the Victorian period is gilded in gold and reinforced with intricately-carved bone. Ladies in Europe used these fans to subtly communicate with men at social gatherings from the 16th to 19th centuries. The small "flirting mirror" in the fan's top right corner allowed a lady to discreetly see whether her flutters were achieving the desired effect. (Unclaimed Baggage)
Unclaimed Baggage Grass Skirt, Polynesian handmade
These skirts are most commonly associated with Hawaiian hula dancing, which consists of over 300 dances. This skirt is an authentic, handmade Polynesian skirt. (Unclaimed Baggage)
Unclaimed Baggage Hoggle from "Labyrinth"
One of Unclaimed Baggage's most well-known finds is the four-foot-tall goblin puppet Hoggle, a character from Jim Henson's film. Hoggle arrived in a deteriorated condition as the materials used to build him weren't meant to last long term. He was restored by a master doll doctor and artist and now resides in the entryway at Unclaimed Baggage. (Unclaimed Baggage)
Unclaimed Baggage Ivory Sculptures
A number of intricately-cared ivory sculptures and figures have been found. But because ivory is obtained through the illegal hunting of wild elephants, it's illegal in most cases to sell in the United States. (Unclaimed Baggage)
Unclaimed Baggage Jeff Semmerling Clown Mask
Here's a find that is sure to make you smile: a handmade clown mask from Chicago-based artist Jeff Semmerling. His masks are well known for their quality and are used in theatrical productions, parades and celebrations. (Unclaimed Baggage)
Unclaimed Baggage Kimono
The Kimono is the national dress of Japan. One Unclaimed Baggage customer has purchased many Kimonos, 175 Indian saris, clothing from Persia and 200 African masks, allowing her to travel the world without leaving her country. (Unclaimed Baggage)
Unclaimed Baggage Lute
This intricately-carved, 15-string Renaissance lute made its way to Unclaimed Baggage. Lutes were popular during the Renaissance. (Unclaimed Baggage)
Unclaimed Baggage Masquerade Mask
Venetian masquerade masks date back to the 12th century in Venice. (Unclaimed Baggage)
Unclaimed Baggage Newspaper from France, 1937
The leather-bound 1934 issue of the French newspaper was found in 1998. It has 336 page and contains new from April to December of that year. (Unclaimed Baggage)
Unclaimed Baggage Opium Scales
These Chinese weight scales were used for centuries to measure medicines, herbs, gems and more. But in the 19th century, these scales were also used to measure opium. Opium scales were designed to fit into compact, wooden cases carved into the shape of a violin or a fish. (Unclaimed Baggage)
Unclaimed Baggage Peace Pipe
This Native American ceremonial pipe is widely used in spiritual rituals. (Unclaimed Baggage)
Unclaimed Baggage Quilt, Amish handmade
Unclaimed Baggage has received an array of handmade Amish quilts over the years. (Unclaimed Baggage)
Unclaimed Baggage Rattlesnake (Live!)
That's correct! Unclaimed Baggage once found a live rattlesnake in some luggage. (Unclaimed Baggage)
Unclaimed Baggage Shrunken Head
One of the most bizarre finds was a medicine-man stick adorned with a shrunken head. (Unclaimed Baggage)
Unclaimed Baggage Tribal Stick with Real Teeth
This intricately-carved walking stick features the fierce face of a warrior. The warrior's bared teeth are real. (Unclaimed Baggage)
Unclaimed Baggage Unicycle
Unicycles are one-wheeled vehicles that the rider pedals in order to propel it. (Unclaimed Baggage)
Unclaimed Baggage Violin made by a student of Stradivarius
This violin was made by a student of the renowned 17th-century luthier from Italy. (Unclaimed Baggage)
Unclaimed Baggage Whalebone carving
This humpback whale vertebra has been ornately carved to feature an Eskimo's face on one side. (Unclaimed Baggage)
Unclaimed Baggage Xylophone
One xylophone received at Unclaimed Baggage came from Neil Diamond's 2008 tour. (Unclaimed Baggage)
Unclaimed Baggage Yves Saint Laurent Handbag
Unclaimed Baggage has unpacked items from some of the world's most valuable luxury brands including Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Yves Saint Laurent. (Unclaimed Baggage)
Unclaimed Baggage Zebra Skin with ears and tail
What a wild find! It's a zebra skin complete with ears and tail. Zebras are legal to hunt in both the United States and Africa. (Unclaimed Baggage)