Set of three 19th C Brendel Models Cherry, Bean and Barley

About the Item

Didactic models were highly sought after and acquired by universities and other institutions worldwide throughout the nineteenth century. The papier-mache was first developed by Dr Louis Jerome Auzoux (1797-1880) as a more robust alternative to wax and soon became the medium of choice. Robert Brendel founded the R. Brendel company in Breslau (currently Wroclaw in Poland). He opened 1866 a factory producing models of anatomy, mineralogy and mainly botanical models designed for teaching. Botanical models are enlargements of plants and flowers. They were made of paper mâché, wood, cotton, bamboo, glass beads, feathers and gelatin …. From the company's beginning, Robert Brendel surrounded himself with qualified artisans and scientists. He benefited from the theoretical advice of Dr Carl Leopold Lohmeyer and botanical advice from Professor Ferdinand Cohn, Director of the Institute of Plant Physiology at Breslau. Throughout the company's life, collaboration with renowned scientists, precision and quality of execution has been a permanent concern of the founder's father and son, which has earned the company internationally recognised. His son Reinhold (1861-1927) collaborates with his father to develop the company and succeeds him. He deepened his knowledge of botany, established in 1898 in Grunewald near Berlin and produced models showing a quality that reached an unparalleled level. The models were sold via illustrated catalogues, either by mail order or via a network of resellers (in Italy, the Paravia firm) and awarded numerous awards and medals. In the late nineteenth century, Robert Brendel and his son Reinhold produced beautiful and accurate enlarged flowers from workshops in Breslau and Berlin. Reinhold was decorated with the Prussian Silver State Medal to appreciate his business activities. The University of Aberdeen Zoology Museum holds over 150 models, illustrating the tremendous demand for scientifically accurate study models in the nineteenth century.

Attributed to:
Reinhold Brendel (Designer)
Dimensions:
Height: 22.05 in (56 cm)Width: 12.6 in (32 cm)Depth: 8.67 in (22 cm)
Sold As:
Set of 3
Materials and Techniques:
Paper,Hand-Crafted,Polychromed
Place of Origin:
Germany
Period:
19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
Unknown
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Leuven , BE
Reference Number:
Seller: 2035-2036-20371stDibs: LU3301128693462