Accession No
6544
Brief Description
papier-mâché and painted wood didactic model of a horse fetlock, by Louis Thomas Jérôme Auzoux, French, c. 1881
Origin
France; Normandy
Maker
Auzoux, Louis Thomas Jérôme
Class
demonstration; biology; physiology
Earliest Date
1881
Latest Date
1881
Inscription Date
Material
paper (papier-mâché); paint; wood; metal; plastic (?)
Dimensions
315mm (height) x 125mm (width) x 265mm (depth)
Special Collection
Provenance
Purchased from Christie’s South Kensington, 85 Old Brompton Road, London, SW7 3LD, Lot 43, Out of the Ordinary Sale (no. 9935), 05/09/2013.
Inscription
“Anatomic Clastique du Dr. Auzoux”
Description Notes
Papier-mâché and painted wood didactic model of a horse fetlock by Auzoux, French, c. 1881
Papier-mâché and painted wood model of a horse’s fetlock, showing the bone, cartilage, tendons, veins and nerves, with part of the cartilage and tendon at the rear detachable for closer examination. The hoof is detachable into 5+ parts, attached together with hooks, hinges and wires. After these parts are removed, the bone can be divided into (at least) two parts, resulting in at least 9 total pieces. Hoof and bones stand alone, but underside of hoof is also detailed, as the whole model is numbered with some parts labelled explicitly.
Condition: good/fair (some paint flaking, rust at hooks and hinges and loss), complete.
References
Events
Description
In contrast to an older generation of wax models of fauna anatomy, those produced by Louis Thomas Jérôme Auzoux (1797–1880) enabled a systematic disassembly and reconstruction of the modelled object. Using a new, secret recipe for a tough, durable type of papier-mache, Auzoux produced a wide variety of anatomical, zoological, and botanical didactic models. Intended for university training, the enhanced colouring of the Auzoux models facilitated the identification of anatomy, and an elaborated labelling system accompanied each model. Depending on the example, the identifiable and removable parts could be extensive. For example, the ‘Complete Clastic Human’ model produced by Auzoux in 1858 contained 92 removable pieces on which there were over 2000 labeled details. To enhance the ‘dissection’ experience, a spatula was used to unhinge the clastic pieces of the model in a fashion similar to the surgeon’s scalpel on the dissection table.
This particular model shows the bone, cartilage, tendons, veins and nerves in a horse’s fetlock. Part of the cartilage and tendon at the rear of the model is detachable for closer examination. The hoof is detachable into several parts, as is the internal bone structure, the whole being attached together with hooks, hinges and wires.
05/11/2013
Created by: Allison Ksiazkiewicz on 05/11/2013
FM:47056
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