Papier-mâché Eyeball Model
Accession Number: F1993.701
Year: Late 19th century
Material: Papier-mâché, glass, hand painting, wooden base
Popularized in the 19th century by French physician Louis Thomas Jerôme Auzoux (1797-1880), papier-mâché anatomical models were used to supplement study of the human body.
Without refrigeration, bodies quickly decay, compromising the condition of the parts and creating an unpleasant work experience. Papier-mâché models were used as surrogate specimens for teaching and reference. This model was made by Auzoux himelf.
The eye is a particularly interesting example of a model because human and animal eyes are extremely difficult to preserve in their lifelike form. Eyes become milky, bleached, and misshapen in preservation fluid or in a dried state. A model is an ideal way to display the eye because the eye’s color and shape remain intact.