Cabinets of Curiosities used to be tremendously popular hundreds of years ago and the collection in this photo does appear to be rather intriguing. Is that a gibbon hanging from one of the shelves?
I think this is purely imaginary, such cabinets were well out of date by Darwin's time. They were also very much the hobby of wealthy amateurs: Darwin was wealthy but he was only an amateur in the sense that he wasn't paid to do science, his attitude was as thoroughly professional as his health allowed, and he must have earned a good deal from his book sales.
The real thing is his old study at Down House, which shows much more about the man https://historymagpiedotcom.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/downhse_darwins-study_jh-image-owned-by-english-heritage.jpg
Thank you for your replies. That is indeed a gibbon hanging there.
I think this display was meant to show a variety of very different species, showing all different things evolution has come up with. I believe that, at one point, they even had a depiction of Darwin sitting there, looking at all the different animals in the display.
