Sea creatures of the deep - the Blaschka Glass models
During the late 19th century, Leopola Blaschka (1822-1895) and his son Rudolf (1857-1929) produced beautifully detailed glass models of bizarre sea creatures for natural history museums and aquaria all over the world.
Their work has been hailed as: “an artistic marvel in the field of science and a scientific marvel in the field of art.”
Today, the Blaschkas seem remarkably contemporary: working as they did on the cusp of design, craft, art and industry.
Click the thumbnails below to view larger images from a selection of these remarkable glass models held at Amgueddfa Cymru.
Blaschka glass models
![](/media/14008/Actinia-mesembryanthum.jpg)
![](/media/14007/Synapta-mammillosa.jpg)
![](/media/14006/Rhizostoma-cuvierii.jpg)
![](/media/14005/Amoeba-roteus.jpg)
![](/media/14004/Glaucus-longicirrus.jpg)
![](/media/3376/Aurelia+aurita.jpg)
![](/media/3375/Argonauta+argo.jpg)
![](/media/3277/Acrinophrys-sol.jpg)
Diameter: 200mm (including spines).
![](/media/3276/Doliolum-mulleri.jpg)
About 70mm long.
![](/media/3206/illustration.jpg)
![](/media/3205/repaired-paper-nautilus.jpg)
Length: 225mm. Height: 150mm.
![](/media/3204/op_broken-paper-nautulus.jpg)
Length: 225mm. Height: 150mm.
![](/media/3203/90.127+Loligo+marmorae.jpeg.jpg)
Length: 145mm.
![](/media/3202/90.126+Loligo+alessandrini.jpeg.jpg)
Length: 85mm.
![](/media/3201/90.111+the+struggle.jpeg.jpg)
Here S. troglodytes fires stinging cells at A. mesembryanthemum who has ventured too close. This behaviour was observed first hand in the aquaria at the Blaschka's home.
Base: 180x110mm. Height: 80mm.
![](/media/3200/90.098+Xenia+umbellata.jpeg.jpg)
About 80mm high.
![](/media/3199/90.096+Paralcyonium+elegans.jpeg.jpg)
About 130mm across.
![](/media/3198/90.091+Sycandra+raphanus.jpeg.jpg)
Diameter: 100mm
![](/media/3197/90.086+Amoeba+proteus.jpeg.jpg)
Diameter: 120mm.
![](/media/3196/90.048+Cerithium+vulgatum.jpeg.jpg)
Length: 90mm.
![](/media/3195/90.038+Sabellaria+alveolata.jpeg.jpg)
Length: 230mm.
![](/media/3194/90.019+Pleurobranchia+rhododactyla.jpeg.jpg)
Length: 205mm.
![](/media/3193/90.017+Pelagia+cyanella.jpeg.jpg)
Diameter of bell: 60mm. Height: 180mm.
![](/media/3192/27.407.27+Caryophyllia+smithii.jpeg.jpg)
Height: 100mm.
![](/media/3191/27.407.24+Actinoloba+dianthus.jpeg.jpg)
Base: 300x575mm. Height: 250mm.
![](/media/3190/27.407.09+Charybdea+periphyllum.jpeg.jpg)
Width: 60mm. Height: 50mm.
![](/media/3189/27.407.05+Colonial+jellyfish+Apolemia+uvaria.jpg)
Width: 45mm. Height: 180mm.
![](/media/3188/27.407.04+Carmarina+hastata.jpeg.jpg)
Diameter of bell: 80mm. Height: 110mm.
![](/media/3187/blaschka_model.jpg)
The 'float' is about 55mm wide by 90mm long. Total height: 240mm. There are about two hundred tentacles made of thin coloured glass, supported and attached by fine copper wires.
Comments - (3)
The most fascinating glass-art-work I've ever seen. I love it with all my heart!!!