In the late nineteenth to early twentieth centuries, Bohemian glassmaker Leopold Blaschka and, later, his son Rudolf Blaschka created and sold an amazing series of glass marine invertebrate models. These models allowed people to see what marine invertebrates looked like when they were alive, rather than what they looked like when preserved. Preserved animals often lost their color and form over time. During the course of their lives, the Blaschkas created thousands of models, many of which are still held at institutions in Europe, the United States, and other countries today. This website shows models from the collection of Blaschka models owned by Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.
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Cnidarians
Introduction to cnidarians (Phylum Cnidaria) and images of the Cornell Blaschka cnidarian models, including sea anemones, soft corals, zoanthids, sea pens, hydrozoans, and jellyfishes.
Ctenophores (comb jellies)
Introduction to the ctenophores or comb jellies (Phylum Ctenophora) and images of the Cornell Blaschka ctenophore models.
Echinoderms
Introduction to echinoderms and images of the Cornell Blaschka echinoderm (Phylum Echinodermata) models, including brittle stars, crinoids, and sea cucumbers.
Chordates
Introduction to chordates and images of the Cornell Blaschka chordate models (Phylum Chordata), including larvaceans, salps, sea squirts, and star ascidians.
Flatworms
Introduction to flatworms (Phylum Platyhelminthes) and images of the Cornell Blaschka platyhelminth models, including flat worms.
Ribbon worms
Introduction to ribbon worms (Phylum Nemertea) and images of the Cornell Blaschka ribbon worm models.
Annelids
Introduction to annelids and images of the Cornell Blaschka annelid models (Phylum Annelida), including leeches, peanut worms, polychaete worms, spoonworms, and tube worms.
Mollusks
Introduction to mollusks and images of the Cornell Blaschka mollusk models, including gastropods (nudibranchs, sea angels, sea butterflies, sea hares, sea slugs, and snails) and cephalopods (octopuses and squid).
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