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Argonauta argo (female), octopus
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Argonauta argo (female), octopus
A glass model of an octopus, created by Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka in the late nineteenth century and held at the Natural History Museum, London
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Media ID 14237439
© Mary Evans / Natural History Museum
1822 1895 1857 1939 Argonaut Argonauta Blaschka Cephalopod Cephalopoda Fragile Leopold Leopold Blaschka Mollusc Mollusca Mollusk Octopod Octopoda Octopus Rudolf Rudolf Blaschka Tentacle Argonauta Argo Invertebrata
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This exquisite glass model of Argonauta argo, the female greater argonaut octopus, is a masterpiece created by Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka in the late 19th century, currently held at the Natural History Museum in London. The Blaschka brothers were renowned for their intricately detailed and lifelike glass models of various marine invertebrates, which they produced between 1857 and 1895. This particular model showcases the Argonauta argo in all its fragile beauty. Argonauts are a type of deep-water squid, belonging to the Argonautidae family, and are known for their unique ability to produce a protective shell, called a purse, which they use as a home and shelter. The female argonaut, depicted in this model, is significantly larger than the male and is responsible for producing the purse. The Blaschka model captures the delicate intricacies of the octopus's anatomy, including its eight long, curved arms, each adorned with two rows of suckers, and its two longer tentacles, which are used for sensing and hunting. The model also highlights the argonaut's translucent skin, revealing the intricate network of veins that run beneath. This model is a testament to the Blaschka brothers' exceptional glassworking skills and their dedication to preserving the natural world through art. The intricacy and detail of this fragile glass model provide a glimpse into the Victorian era's fascination with the natural world and the lengths to which scientists and artists went to understand and document it.
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