The new exhibition Powerhouse Materials: Paper, guest curated by Andy Griffiths, features a remarkable object from the Powerhouse Collection now on display: an intricately crafted 19th-century anatomical model of the human eye (Object No. H1708). Made in Germany between 1850 and 1894, this papier-mâché model is more than a teaching aid, it’s a physical expression of the scientific curiosity and anatomical understanding developing during a period of rapid discovery.
At first glance, the model showcases the structure of the human eye with impressive accuracy. Yet its significance goes deeper. During the mid-1800s, scientists were intensely investigating how the eye functions, its ability to adjust focus, regulate light, and correct distortions such as spherical and chromatic aberration. Even Charles Darwin, writing in the 1850s, explored how such a complex organ could evolve, drawing comparisons between the biological mechanisms of the eye and precision instruments like the microscope. This model sits squarely within that era of questioning, experimentation, and explanation.
The Powerhouse acquired many papier-mâché anatomical models in its early years, and this eye model – described as a “large model of eye with separate cornea” – was obtained from the German company F. Rammé in 1894. These models weren’t passive display pieces; they were used actively for education. For decades, they played a central role in teaching anatomy. A 1949 Guide to the Museum of Technology and Applied Science (as the Powerhouse was then called) notes that teachers brought their students to learn from these models firsthand, with cases opened so the students could handle and explore them.
Visitors can experience the anatomical model of the human eye- and many other extraordinary paper objects – at Powerhouse Castle Hill now.
Blogpost by Karen Griffiths, Volunteers Program Officer