Accession No

5377

Brief Description

botanical teaching model of unknown plant, one part is 19th century possibly German by Robert Brendel, the other is posssibly a 20th century addition

Origin

Germany; Berlin

Maker

Brendel, Robert

Class

biology; demonstration

Earliest Date

1870

Latest Date

1890

Inscription Date

Material

wood; paper (card, cardboard); paint

Dimensions

height 430mm; width of base 105mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Purchased from Trevor Philip & Sons, 75a Jermyn Street, St James, London, England on 02/02/1999. 22 Botanical models were purchased as one lot. Purchased with grant aid from PRISM fund administered by the Science Museum.

Inscription

Description Notes

botanical teaching model of unknown plant, one part is 19th century possibly German by Robert Brendel, the other is possibly a 20th century addition.

Turned wooden base with two turned wooden columns. One holds the complete plant the other a cross section indicating the growth of an emerging leaf from the stem area. The complete plant is a likely 20th century addition. The nature of construction, purley card, and the paint, emulsion or giving a rubber type finish all suggest a subsequent addition to the stand. At present there is no way to ascertain whether the complete plant and the emerging leaf are actually the same species. The emerging leaf is made of wood, card, plaster and paint. The final varnish is cracking in places. The embryonic leaf has a hole within it suggesting that a piece of the model is missing.

Condition good to fair

References

Events