The collection of dermatologic wax moulages at the University of Kiel, Germany

Sticherling, Michael; Euler, U.

doi:10.1046/j.1365-4362.2001.01268.x

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…[12][13][14][15] Historians and clinicians are discovering collections of moulages, long forgotten, now considered historical treasures, and attempts are being made to resurrect these collections and put them on display.…”

Section: Spread Of the Tradition Of Dermato-venereologic Moulages To mentioning

confidence: 99%

Moulages in dermatology-venereology

Joshi

2010

Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol

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Wax models had been used for several centuries in Europe to depict anatomy of the human body; it appeared to have reached the peak of perfection in the 18 th century especially in Italy. Rich collections of such models in cities like Bologna and Florence illustrate the high standards that were attained by collaboration between artistic modelers and leading anatomists of those days. [1] This early wax modeling was known as ' Anatomica Plastica', where minute details of the human anatomy were depicted by wax models. The next logical step was illustration of diseases by use of wax models (Patho-anatomica plastica) and wax models (moulages) were used in various medical specialities like surgery, obstetrics, ophthalmology etc but it was in dermatology that these reached heights of artistic endeavor by faithfully reproducing the minutiae of skin diseases in a realistic three dimensional presentation that far surpassed any other teaching aids then available, like paintings, illustrations and photographs (Daguerreotypes) which were all two dimensional modalities. It is not surprising, therefore, that moulages soon formed the main teaching aids in dermatology and venereology till the 1940s, when the disruptions of World War II interrupted moulage production and good quality color photography became available and replaced moulages as the main teaching and recording medium for skin diseases.The making of moulages (derived from the French, mouler, meaning to mould) in general includes preparation of a negative image of the patients own skin and then filling this image with molten wax to depict the exact appearance of the skin and the disease that it bears.The negative mould was usually made from the patient's skin using plaster of Paris which was then filled up with molten beeswax and other organic and inorganic ingredients which were kept secret by the moulager. The ready wax cast was then painted on with appropriate colors to approximate the color of the skin and the lesions of the disease. To impart authenticity, were often added real hair and glass eyes whenever necessary. The whole model was mounted on a wooden board and sometimes enclosed by a glass cylinder.Because the skin is so readily accessible, this procedure could be repeated several times to capture various stages of the disease in the course of its evolution or devolution without much discomfort to the patients.While the practice of anatomic wax model making was widespread all over Europe, moulages of skin diseases were restricted to few places and the techniques were zealously guarded by the moulagers who often refused to take assistants or share their knowledge of moulage making.

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Section: Spread Of the Tradition Of Dermato-venereologic Moulages To mentioning

confidence: 99%

Moulages in dermatology-venereology

Joshi

2010

Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol

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“…Schamberg and Wallis, 1901 is a rare published account of nineteenth-century techniques. 63 Sticherling and Euler, 2001. 64 .…”

Section: Wax Modeling In Britainmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wax Bodies: Art and Anatomy in Victorian Medical Museums

Alberti

2009

Museum History Journal

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Effigies, facsimiles, and replicas were common features of nineteenth-century cultures of display. Medical museums in particular housed numerous models in media such as glass and plaster; the closest in appearance to human flesh for anatomical representation, however, was wax. This paper explores the role of ceroplastica in British anatomy museums through the wax bodies of Joseph Towne, modeler at Guy's Hospital Museum in London. Towne's processes and products were distinct from his European predecessors in ways that reveal not only the contingencies of museum practice, but also the particular place of wax in the Victorian exhibitionary complex.

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“…On samples that represent facial prints, as a rule, the eyes are always closed. On the well‐preserved moulages without cracks or other imperfections, a yellowish or yellowish‐brown discoloration can be noticed, whereas the colour of the lesions is paler; this phenomenon has been noted within other collections and seems to be unavoidable; it is appropriately named ‘dying of the moulage’ 12 …”

Section: The Moulage Collection Todaymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On the well-preserved moulages without cracks or other imperfections, a yellowish or yellowishbrown discoloration can be noticed, whereas the colour of the lesions is paler; this phenomenon has been noted within other collections and seems to be unavoidable; it is appropriately named 'dying of the moulage'. 12 Today, the moulages are encased within wooden glass-door display cabinets and kept in a room that is isolated from moisture, where black drapes are hung on the windows to avoid fading effects due to sunlight, partially reaching the ideal preservation conditions of moulages suggested by Georg Photinos. 13 The Belgrade dermatovenereologic moulage collection is divided into four groups.…”

Section: The Moulage Collection Todaymentioning

confidence: 99%

The Belgrade dermatovenereologic moulage collection: past and present

Medenica¹,

Lalević-Vasić²,

Skiljevic³

2008

Acad Dermatol Venereol

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The Belgrade dermatovenereologic moulge collection is formed during the period between 1925 and 1958, with one break between 1940 and 1950. The first moulages have been created after the foundation of the Belgrade University's School of Medicine and the Institute of Dermatology and Venereology (IDV), when this form of education became very significant. The collection is now comprised of 350 moulages, of which 280 pieces are completely preserved, whereas 70 are previously damaged. This article describes the work of two authors of moulages: one was Dr. Sergej Pavlovic Alisov, physician, amateur sculptor and painter, and the other was academic sculptor Vojislav Sikoparija. Wide variety of presented cases of skin and venereal diseases have been analysed; before World War I, there was a high proportion and florid pathology of venereal diseases and leprosy, whereas after World War II, these diseases became infrequent. Moulages at the IDV display high authenticity, which in some cases, made possible the correction of original diagnosis according to current criteria. Moulages represent a very significant subject of medical profession, and the need of an expert opinion on the conservation and reparation of moulages, which could be implemented by those in possession of such collections, is emphasized.

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The collection of dermatologic wax moulages at the University of Kiel, Germany

Cited by 8 publications

References 13 publications

Moulages in dermatology-venereology

Moulages in dermatology-venereology

Wax Bodies: Art and Anatomy in Victorian Medical Museums

The Belgrade dermatovenereologic moulage collection: past and present

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