The Glass Sea Creatures of Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka

The Corning Museum of Glass is having this marvelous exhibit of glass models until January

Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka were German artists who also created the glass botanical models of flowers that are exhibited at the Harvard museums.  These models are so delicate, it is rare they travel around the country so when they are around, you've gotta go see them!  Many of these here are from the collection at Cornell

They sold these models to scientists and universities.  While this model is about three inches tall, the sea creature (an anemone) is only about 1/4 inch tall.

Box of tiny eyeballs

Detailed drawings preceded the model-making step

There are other collections around the world, most at universities but many in private hands.  If you ever get to Cornell or Harvard, look up the Blaschkas and prepare to be amazed!