In June of 2022, as part of a Brittingham grant, soft glass artist Loren Stump was invited to the University of Wisconsin-Madison for three-days to explore variables related to constructing period appropriate Blaschka invertebrate models. This project’s intention was to create a proof-of-concept construction of Blaschka invertebrate parts and models. Stump was joined by other glass artists and workers in this collaborative project and investigation.
On the first day of Loren’s visit, scientific glassblowers and artists Erich Moraine, Lauren Aria, Tracy Drier, and Andrew Bearnot visited the UW Zoological Museum to closely investigate the Blaschka models in the UW collection. This investigation led us to a greater understanding of how the models were originally constructed. We were able to de-construct Blaschka’s techniques of using adhesives and waxes to adhere parts together, glass coating of copper wires, usage of other materials for surface applications, etc.
Torch:
In this project, we used a historically relevant torch to the Blaschkas to construct our models and components. Little research exists of the kinds of the kinds of torches the Leopold and Rudolph Blaschka used to create their work. We created a modified torch from a ca. 1920’s US torch to conduct our work with. We used natural gas and air to fuel our torch. We spent our time investigating which kinds of torch tips gave us the most ideal fires to create a model.
Glass:
We also spent our time investigating different kinds of glass to create our models. Based on the chemical analysis of UW Blaschka shards from the Corning Museum, we knew that the Blaschkas used a soda-lime glass to create their models. This glass is similar, but not identical, to different soda-lime glasses available commercially today.
After investigation, the Lauscha eyeball tubing (used for making glass eyes) became the most desirable glass we tested. With this glass, we could blow bubbles up to 50-55mm in diameter. Comparatively, the largest bubbles in the UW collection were the jellyfish bodies, measuring 85mm in diameter.
Making:
During Loren’s visit, we focused on the creation of the Actinophrys sol invertebrate model, based on the technical limits of the torch and tools we were working with. We knew we could make a bubble up to 50-55mm in diameter, and this model fit well into this size range and other techniques we were looking to explore.
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