Description

A Brendel botanical model of the daphne flower, or daphne mezereum, of the 1880’s. It is a four times enlarged depiction made of wood and paper mâché. The model consists two flowers on a stem, one of the flowers is cut in half, in order to view the ovary.  It rests on a ebonized turned wooden stand with its original blue label with names in different languages, specifications and numbered no. 61, which corresponds perfectly with the Brendel catalogue. Also a small metal plate stamped ‘R. Brendel – Grunewald Berlin – Bismarck allee 53’ In the catalogue, the Brendel daphne mezereum is categorized under the ‘giftgewächse’, or poisonous plant series.

In 1866 Robert Brendel (ca. 1821-1898) from Breslau took over the production the flower models. He was succeeded by his son Reinhold Brendel (ca. 1861-1927). In 1866, there were thirty models to choose from, and by 1913, there were nearly 300. The models were developed in consultation with prominent professors. They are made of various materials to imitate their original features, such as papier-mâché, wood, metal wire, and glass beads.

36 cm high