Glass Flowers

• The Harvard Museums of Science & Culture welcome more than 300,000 visitors per year
• Stunning, all new photography illuminates the collection like never before
• Follows the successful book Sea Creatures in Glass: The Blaschka Marine Animals at Harvard, published in 2016

One of Harvard University’s most famous treasures is the internationally acclaimed Ware Collection of Blaschka Glass Models of Plants, the ‘Glass Flowers’. From orchids to bananas, rhododendrons to lilies, Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka created a stunning array of glass models of plants from around the world. Working exclusively for Harvard in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Blaschkas applied their artistic expertise and botanical knowledge to craft a meticulously portrayed collection for Harvard students, researchers and the public. Exquisite detail is captured in this dazzling publication, featuring new photography of models that inspire wonder and blur the line between the real and man-made. The collection demonstrates the majesty of plants and scientific acumen of this father-and-son team, and is the only one of its kind in the world.

Jennifer Brown became the Collection Manager for the Glass Flowers in 2012. Her background in art and library science combined with her experience assisting glass artist Toots Zynsky prepared her to work with this unique collection.

Scott E. Fulton is Head Conservator for the Glass Flowers. An expert in objects conservation, he joined the Harvard University Herbaria in 2015 after serving as principal consultant on the care and preservation of the collection since 1997.

Donald H. Pfister is the Asa Gray Professor of Systematic Botany and Curator of the Farlow Library and Herbarium of Cryptogamic Botany. He previously served as Director of the Harvard University Herbaria and had his first view of the Glass Flowers as a graduate student visitor.

Natalja Kent is a commercial photographer and fine artist based in Los Angeles, California. She has over 17 years of experience in cultural heritage photography, is an avid gardener and flora enthusiast.