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different series created to illustrate diseased fruits, insect pollination of plants,
and life cycles of fungi, ferns, and bryophytes. All of this was aimed at
building public plant literacy. These models challenge the viewer to
understand basic plant biology, structure, and reproduction. But, as one is
drawn into the beauty of the models and the wonder they inspire, one is also
aware that the makers were faithfully transcribing what they saw using
materials and techniques they were constantly modifying to meet their exact-
ing standards of verisimilitude.
The Glass Flowers are on permanent
exhibition at the Harvard Museum of
Natural History located at 26 Oxford
Street in Cambridge, MA. To learn more,
click here: harvard.edu
A new book about the collection is
available now, Glass Flowers: Marvels of
Art and Science at Harvard. This book is
published by Scala Arts Publishers, Inc. in
association with the Harvard Museums of
Science & Culture. To learn more about
the book and how to order, click here:
ScalaPublishers.com/glass-flowers

The Glass Flowers came to be because of
George Lincoln Goodale’s foresight, Leopold
and Rudolf Blaschka’s masterful talents, and
the Ware family's support. The collection is a
marvel of artistry, innovation, and scientific
acuity. Upon seeing these models in person, one
wonders how they are indeed fragile glass.
Glass model of Anacardium occiden-
tale (Cashew), Model no. 424,
Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka, 1894

The Ware Collection of Blaschka Glass Models of Plants on
permanent exhibition at the Harvard Museum of Natural History,
Harvard University Herbaria. Photo by Jennifer Berglund

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