Accession No
6141
Brief Description
Portuguese polychrome papier-mache model of human torso, early 19th century
Origin
Lisbon
Maker
Pimental and Casquilho
Class
demonstration; biology
Earliest Date
1800
Latest Date
1850
Inscription Date
Material
Papier-mache; wood (ebony)
Dimensions
Length 370mm; width 235mm; height 670mm
Special Collection
Provenance
Purchased from Christies, South Kensington. 85, Brompton Road, London, SW7 on or before 11/07/2007.
Inscription
“PIMINTEL & CASQUILHO La
LISBOA
R. Eugenio dos Santos 75” (on base)
Description Notes
Portuguese polychrome papier-mache model of female human torso with detachable organs, on ebonised plinth base, early 19th century.
Five individual organs can be extracted: two separate lungs, heart, stomach, and small/large instestine. Lungs and intestine have pins sticking out of them to slot into the main body and metal loops on their outer surface to aid removal. Heart has metal hook on top to slot into carotid artery. Stomach has no attachments but merely sits in place on top of small intestine. Small numbers are painted in black on the different parts of the anatomy (including organs, muscle and blood vessels), running through to 38.
Condition: fair.
Paint on wooden base is worn.
Diaphragm and liver are missing.
Paint on jugular veins is peeling. Area around where the heart hooks onto the bottom of carotid artery is chipped and worn. Part of diaphragm is chipped and worn. Top of inside of left-hand (i.e. the model’s left-hand) lung is chipped, and paint on lower part is peeling. Heart is dirty, its top is slightly peeling and a crack runs along the base. Top right of stomach has a large chip. Top left of intestines is chipped and cracked, another crack runs to the point where the pin comes out, and the paint on underside is worn. Entire figure is peppered with small holes and surface of skin and garment are covered in cracks.
References
Events
Description
Confronted with a shortage of human remains for performing dissections, nineteenth-century model-makers began to produce life-like examples of anatomy that would support medical teaching. While anatomical models did not completely displace the value of observation through dissection, they were important objects for familiarizing and visualizing internal human anatomy. The famous French model-maker Louis Thomas Jérôme Auzoux (1797–1880) invented a special papier-mâché medium for producing inexpensive and durable models. Many model makers after him attempted Auzoux’s papier-mâché technique; however, few matched the quality that Auzoux was able to produce. Throughout the nineteenth century, modeler makers continued to experiment with different materials, including early forms of plastics. This polychrome model of the human uterus is made from papier-mâché. Five individual organs can be disassembled from the torso: left and right lungs, heart, stomach, and small/large intestine.
18/02/2014
Created by: Allison Ksiazkiewicz on 18/02/2014
FM:46610
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