Six wax teaching models illustrating stages in the embryonic development of a grasshopper

Collections_arrangement of tools, photographs, six models on wood bases

Collections_exhibition title wall to right, view of gallery

Collections_view down gallery, display cases with objects

Collections_19th century sepia photograph showing display cases with specimens

Collections_microscope on right with attachments, meteorite on left

Collections_six mounted bird specimens arranged in group

Collections_open wood box with watercolors, color swatches

Six wax teaching models illustrating stages in the embryonic development of a grasshopper

dimensions variable

2020

teaching models and tools

Teaching models like these were made of wax, glass or papier mâché and were common in 19th century zoology classrooms. These grasshopper embryo models likely date to the late 19th century, when there was great interest in learning about the developmental stages of animal and insect embryos.

The wax models; microtome (left upper part of case); glass microscope slides and microscope; and stereographs of diatoms are all part of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Zoological Museum collection.

history of natural history, UW-Madison history