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

<em>Actinia mesembryanthum</em>
Actinia mesembryanthum
<em>Synapta mammillosa</em>
Synapta mammillosa
<em>Rhizostoma cuvierii</em>
Rhizostoma cuvierii
<em>Amoeba roteus</em>
Amoeba roteus
<em>Glaucus longicirrhus</em>
Glaucus longicirrhus
Aurelia aurita
Life size 'moon jellyfish', or common jellyfish Aurelia aurita.
Argonauta argo
Life sized paper nautilus Argonauta argo
Actinophrys sol
Highly magnified model of a single cell radiolarian (Actinophrys sol).

Diameter: 200mm (including spines).

Doliolum mülleri
Life sized Tunicate (Doliolum mülleri).

About 70mm long.

Original illustration of Paper Nautilus from which the model was made
Original illustration of Female Paper Nautilus (Argonata Argo) from which the model was made.
Paper Nautilus after repair
Female Paper Nautilus (Argonata Argo) after repair.

Length: 225mm. Height: 150mm.

Paper Nautilus before repair
Female Paper Nautilus (Argonata Argo) before repair.

Length: 225mm. Height: 150mm.

Loligo marmorae
Life sized squid (Loligo marmorae).

Length: 145mm.

Loligo alessandrini
Life sized squid (Loligo alessandrini).

Length: 85mm.

Sea anenomies displaying a territorial dispute.
Sea anenomies displaying a territorial dispute.

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.

Xenia umbellata
Life sized soft coral (Xenia umbellata).

About 80mm high.

Paralcyonium elegans
Life sized soft coral (Paralcyonium elegans).

About 130mm across.

Sycandra raphanus
Highly magnified model of the development stage of a sponge (Sycandra raphanus).

Diameter: 100mm

Amoeba proteus
Highly magnified model of single cell amoeba (Amoeba proteus).

Diameter: 120mm.

Cerithium vulgatum
Life sized model of marine snail (Cerithium vulgatum) with glass body fitted in real shell.

Length: 90mm.

Sabellaria alveolata
Enlarged tube-dwelling marine worm (Sabellaria alveolata).

Length: 230mm.

Pleurobranchia rhododactyla
A 'sea gooseberry' or 'comb jellyfish' (Pleurobranchia rhododactyla).

Length: 205mm.

Pelagia cyanella
Jellyfish (Pelagia cyanella).

Diameter of bell: 60mm. Height: 180mm.

Caryophyllia smithii
Two Devonshire cup corals (Caryophyllia smithii), one expanded, one contracted.

Height: 100mm.

Actinoloba dianthus
Actinoloba dianthus, Plumose Anenome - varieties of forms and growth stages.

Base: 300x575mm. Height: 250mm.

Charybdea periphyllum
Life sized 'Sea Wasp' jellyfish (Charybdea periphyllum)

Width: 60mm. Height: 50mm.

Apolemia uvaria
'Colonial jellyfish' (Apolemia uvaria).

Width: 45mm. Height: 180mm.

Carmarina hastata
Jellyfish (Carmarina hastata)

Diameter of bell: 80mm. Height: 110mm.

Physalia arethusa
An intricate model of a Portuguese Man-of-War (Physalia arethusa)

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.

Related Features

Article

Spectacular glass sea creatures of the deep

16 May 2007
Article

Repairing the irreplaceable - Conserving the Blaschka glass models

16 May 2007

Comments (3)

Comments are currently unavailable. We apologise for the inconvenience.
Jbailey
28 March 2019, 17:24
Amazing
Colin Fraser
27 March 2017, 10:58
Beautiful and what skill...
Sabine Klingsöhr
26 July 2016, 08:45

The most fascinating glass-art-work I've ever seen. I love it with all my heart!!!