Brendel Rape flower model, c. 1880
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A Brendel botanical model of the rape flower, or Brassica of the 1880’s. The Brassica Napus is a 6 times enlarged flower model, made of wood and paper mâché. It rests on a ebonized turned wooden stand with its original blue label on which it numbered no. 18, which corresponds with the Brendel catalogue.
The Brendel brassica is part of the ‘angebaute, landwirtschaftich wichtige planzen’, or cultivated, agriculturally important plants series. It depicts the flower and the petals 6 times enlarged. The petals are to be removed, whereupon the developing fruit becomes visible in cross-section. The stem is held by turned wooden ebonized holders which can be adjusted on an ebonized stand. On the blue label the names 18 rape flower are depicted in different languages.
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 professors including Julius Cohn, Eduard Eidam, Alexander Tschirch, Leopold Kny, Carl Müller, Emerich Ratháy, Lajos Jurányi, and G. Höstermann. They are made of various materials, such as papier-mâché, wood, metal wire, and glass beads.
Height: 47 cm.
