Accession No
5613
Brief Description
six plaster botanical fungi models, by Louis Thomas Jérôme Auzoux, French, 19th century
Origin
France; Saint-Aubin-d'Écrosville
Maker
Auzoux, Louis Thomas Jérôme
Class
demonstration; natural history
Earliest Date
1800
Latest Date
1900
Inscription Date
Material
plaster; cloth; metal
Dimensions
variable, highest 165mm; greatest diameter 147
Special Collection
Provenance
Purchased from Trevor Philip & Sons, 75a Jermyn Street, St James, London, England from 12/07/1999.
Inscription
on a metal plaque on the base:
‘DocteurAUZOUX
ST. AUBIN-d’ECROSVILLE (EURE)
FRANCE’
Description Notes
6 plaster botanical fungi models, by Auzoux; French; 19th century.
Six round plaster plaques, bevelled and painted black round the edges. The centre is sculpted and painted to resemble the ground with one to three fungi growing. Each has a metal plaque bearing the inscription “Dr Auzoux, St. Aubin d'Ecrosville”
There is also a depression indicating where possibly a name label has been removed. The name of the mushroom is painted around the base in white, but this is worn in many cases. Most of the mushrooms show fine cracks round their bases? indications they were made separately? The black paint of the base is crackled on several.
5613.1 Amanita Panthérina
Two mushrooms, the mantle round the larger one and a chip at the base of the smaller show signs of repair.
5613.2 Russula Emeticas
The name has been erased from the side and written in the depression left by the removed label. 3 fungi
5613.3 Entoloma Lividum
The paint at the base of the larger (of 2) is slightly scratched.
5613.4 Amanita Citrina
One fungus, the edge by the label is chipped
5613.5 Lactarius Torminosus
2 fungi, a large chip by the makers label has been reglued
5613.6 Amanita Muscaria
Two fungi, the mantle of the larger is somewhat damaged.
References
Anna Maerker; 'Plant models'; Explore Whipple Collections online article; Whipple Museum of the History of Science; University of Cambridge; 2008: https://www.whipplemuseum.cam.ac.uk/explore-whipple-collections/models/dr-auzouxs-papier-mache-models/plant-models
Events
Description
These fungi models were produced by Louis Thomas Jérôme Auzoux (1797–1880) as teaching and reference models for botany students. Institutions, such as Cornell University and Mount Holyoke in the United States, purchased models such as these to demonstrate their ability to compete against established teaching programmes and to circumvent traditional modes of acquiring botanical knowledge. This particular collection of models came from France, and there are six fungi in the set: Amanita Pantherina, Panther Cap or False Blusher (5613.1), Russula Emeticas, Sickener or Vomiting Russula (5613.2), Entoloma Lividum, a deadly poisonous agaric (5613.3), Amanita Citrina, False Death Cap (5613.4), Lactarius Torminosus, Woolly Milkcap or Bearded Milkcap (5613.5), Amanita Muscaria, Fly Agaric or Fly Amanita (5613.6). As a medical student in Paris, Auzoux developed a special papier-mâché mixture (containing cork and clay as well as paper and glue) in order to produce anatomical models that could be taken apart piece by piece. After establishing a commercially successful factory in St. Aubin d’Ecrosville that produced clastic models of human anatomy, Auzoux’s company expanded to include examples of animals and plants.
05/11/2013
Created by: Allison Ksiazkiewicz on 05/11/2013
FM:45987
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