‘Take but a Walk to the “Swan” in the “Strand”… and there thou mayest… see a Woman with Horns growing upon the hinder Part of her Head’ (‘Phoenix Britannicus’, 1732). This is a portrait of Mary Davis (or Davies), aged 74, who was on display to the curious public. Her condition, a sebaceous horn, was rare, but instances still occur today. The portrait seems to have been displayed in the Museum since at least 1761. Also shown was an actual horn from a Mrs French of Tenterden, Kent which had been purchased by Sir Hans Sloane. The origins of the painting are not known but in the same article there is the comment ‘I am informed, that this very Mother Davies’s Picture is now in the possession of the learned R. M—d, M.D.’ Dr Richard Mead (1673–1754), a contemporary of Sloane was also a noted physician and collector so the Museum’s portrait, which is not listed in Sloane’s catalogues, may have been acquired from Mead.