The Ware Collection 
of Blaschka glass models of flowers at Harvard. 
WALTER DEANE. 
In the botanical museum of Harvard University is to be 
seen a collection which is absolutely unique in every way. It 
is the Blaschka Glass Flower Collection, presented by Mrs. 
Elizabeth C. Ware and Miss Mary L. Ware, in memory of Dt. 
Chas. E. Ware, of the class of 1834. These flowers are intended 
to illustrate the typical forms of phenogamic vegetation I 
America, and certain forms of the cryptogams will also be rep- 
resented. The work is being done by the artists, Leopol 
and Rudolph Blaschka, father and son, living in Hosterwit2, 
Germany. It was through the untiring energy of Dr. Geo. 
L. Goodale that these artists were induced to abandon their 4 
work of making glass models of animals, chiefly marine ¥ — 
vertebrates, which were sold to museums over the worl 4 
and devote themselves entirely to the construction of plants. . 
They were, however, finally persuaded, on their own term — 
to give their entire time to this work, and, by the last CoP 
tract executed in Dresden in 1890, a certain number of moe] 
els are to be sent to this country twice a year, for ten ba j 
An American garden around their house supplies them " 
North American plants, while, from the royal garden 6 
nitz near by, they secure specimens of the vegetation his 
Central and South America. Leopold, the son, visited © 
country in 1892, and, in his travels to Jamaica and over ge 
West, he prepared himself, by studies in color and collection 
of material, for the production of over 200 species. 
Certain secrets are in their possession, such as th 
color, the preparation of the more fusible kinds of glass, 
a peculiar method of annealing. The process is not, 18 has 
sense of the term, glass-blowing. Dr. Goodale, who alr 
been permitted to see the artists at work in their studio ac 
astonished at the rapidity and deftness with which they 50 : 
complished their wonderful results.. They each average 
plants a year, and, when the amount of labor, and et 
ness of detail are considered, this is truly marvellous. ‘ 
450 large and 1800 small models are on exhibition her 
e use of 
BERR 
eke 
