R. Brendel «Salvia Officinalis» Botanical Didactic Model XIXe

ROBERT BRENDEL (1821 – 1898)

Robert Brendel founded the R. Brendel company in Breslau (currently Wroclaw in Poland). He opened in 1866 a factory producing models of anatomy, mineralogy and mainly botanical models designed for teaching. Botanical models, whose number has reached more than two hundred, are enlargements of plants and flowers. They are made of papier mâché, wood, cotton, bamboo, glass beads, feathers and gelatin ….

From the beginning of the company, Robert Brendel surrounds himself with qualified craftsmen and scientists. He benefited from the theoretical advice of a pharmacist, Dr. Carl Leopold Lohmeyer, and botanical advice from Professor Ferdinand Cohn, Director of the Institute of Plant Physiology at the University of Breslau.

Throughout the life of the company, collaboration with various renowned scientists, precision and quality of execution have been a permanent concern of the company which has earned to be internationally recognized.

His son Reinhold (1861-1927) collaborates with his father and succeeds him. In 1898 he established the company in Grunewald near Berlin. He deepened his knowledge of botany, and the models produced then show a quality that reaches an unparalleled level.

The models were sold via illustrated catalogs, either by mail order or via a network of resellers (in Italy the Paravia firm) and were awarded with numerous awards and medals.

Today, Brendel models have lost their original didactic function, but they are highly appreciated by collectors. In addition, some large collections are showcased in various universities.