The art of moulage - immortalised clinical images

The new exhibition displays some of the more than 3000 listed specimens from the Pathological Anatomical Collection in Vienna.

In 1892, Carl Henning began producing moulages for medical teaching on behalf of the Medical Faculty of the University of Vienna. Due to the great success and widespread use of his moulages, a separate institute was founded at the university to produce and reproduce them. Initially producing 100 moulages a year, the number of new productions and copies soon increased.

After Carl Henning's sudden death, his son Theodor took over the production, the institute was privatised and several new facets were added. Facial prostheses and death masks were now also produced. The recipe and production methods also changed over the years, and the wax mixture was regularly improved in addition to the company's own moulding compound. Moulages were produced until 1937, after which Theodor Henning shifted his focus to the manufacture of prostheses, mainly for war invalids.

Using material analysis and historical sources, the exhibition traces the development of moulages and the history of the k.k. Moulage Institute from a university institution for the production of teaching aids to a private company with a wide range of products.