Model showing edible and inedible fungi by Dr Louis Auzoux
Object No. 2796
Botanical model showing edible and inedible fungi (30), papier-mâché, made by Dr Louis Thomas Jerome Auzoux, France, 1880-1890
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Summary
Physical Description
Thirty individual mushroom models, including examples of Agaricus and Boletus fungi. The models are fixed to a common base modelled as rock terrain with moss in crevices. Each fungus model is numbered, and labelled with its common name in French. Cardboard labels in English were added by the Museum. Some remain attached to the object and the rest are on file. Thirteen of the models are articulated, these split down the centre, held by a pin and metal hook. The English labels read as follows: 1. SNAKE AGARIC / Agaricus colubrinus / Bulliard / Edible 2. SNAKE AGARIC / Agaricus colubrinus (young) / Bulliard / Edible 3. COMMON FIELD AGARIC / Agaricus campestris / Bulliard / Edible 4. COMMON FIELD AGARIC / Agaricus campestris (young) / Bulliard / Edible 5. BULBOUS AGARIC / Agaricus bulbosus / Bulliard / Dangerous 6. BULBOUS AGARIC / Agaricus bulbosus (young) / Bulliard / Dangerous 7. EDIBLE (BALL OF SNOW) AGARIC / Agaricus / Bulliard / Edible 8. EDIBLE (BALL OF SNOW) AGARIC / Agaricus edulis (young) / Bulliard / Edible 9. TRUE ORANGE AGARIC / Agaricus aurantiacus / Bulliard / Edible 10. FALSE ORANGE AGARIC / Agaricus pseudaurantiacus / Bulliard / Poisonous 11. PYROGALE AGARIC / Agaricus / Poisonous 12. Label missing. 13. ENTICING AGARIC / Agaricus cantharellus / Bulliard / Edible 14. VIOLET AGARIC / Agaricus nudus / Cordier / Edible 15. DELICIOUS AGARIC / Agaricus deliciosus / Cordier / Edible 16. MOUSE AGARIC / Agaricus vaginatus / Cordier / Edible 17. AGARIC / Agaricus rubescens / Batsch. / Suspected 18. COMMON BOLETUS / Boletus communis / Bulliard / Edible 19. EDIBLE BOLETUS / Boletus edulis / Bulliard / Edible 20. REDDISH BOLETUS / Boletus / Suspected 21. Label missing. 22. WAVY HYDNUM / Hydnum repandum / Linne / Edible 23. HORN OF PLENTY HELVELLA / Helvella cornucopoides / Bulliard 24. MITRED HELVELLA / Helvella cornucopioides / Bulliard / Edible 25. YELLOW MOREL / Morchella esculenta / Bulliard / Edible 26. BLACK MOREL / Morchella nigra / Bulliard / Edible 27. IMPURE MOREL / Phallus impudicus / Bulliard / Suspected 28. IMPURE MOREL / Phallus impudicus / Bulliard / Suspected 29. PUFF-BALL / Lycoperdon proteus / Bulliard / Suspected 30. GLAZED NEDULARY / Nudillaria vernicosa / Bulliard / Suspected
DIMENSIONS
Height
260 mm
Width
656 mm
Depth
375 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
Although this model has no maker's mark, it is identical to the model illustrated in the firm's catalogue (See the Catalogue in the Museum's collection, 2005/213/1, which includes full table of all fungi names and details and illustration page 49-50). Louis Thomas Jerome Auzoux (1797-1878) began making anatomical models from papier mache in 1826 when, training to be a doctor, he became aware of the difficulty of teaching anatomy using human cadavers. Models in wax were available but were very expensive. In contrast, papier mache was comparatively inexpensive, stable and able to be easily moulded. Furthermore, it was strong enough to allow each model to be taken apart to show the arrangement of organs, ''to be removed one by one, just like when dissecting'. By 1833 Auzoux had established a factory in the village of Saint-Aubin d'Ecrossville that manufactured a range of anatomical, zoological and botanical models for sale to medical schools, colleges and museums. Over the next century and a half the range increased to some 600 models, the majority zoological and botanical, with 100 relating to human anatomy. For many years the Auzoux family had a shop in the Rue du medecine in Paris. the shop finally closed in the 1990s and the contents were sold at auction on 22 October 1998.
HISTORY
Notes
The Museum purchased a group of models from Dr Auzoux in November of 1883. During the 1880s the Museum made a number of purchases of botanical and zoological models from the Parisian company of Dr Auzoux. At the time these models were expensive but the then curator, Henry Maiden, may well have been influenced in purchasing them by the recommendation of his friend and mentor, the English philanthropist Thomas Twining. Twining published widely on museums and their contents and recommended Auzoux's anatomical models.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Purchased 1883
Acquisition Date
23 November 1883
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