The art of the moulage
Immortalised clinical pictures
from 08. October 2025
The new permanent exhibition at the Fool's Tower.
Moulages are realistic replicas of injuries, skin diseases or
other medical findings – mostly made of materials such as wax, silicone or plastic.
Wax casts from clinical specimens were mainly used in medical teaching at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries to show students realistic clinical depictions without the need for patients.
In 1892, Carl Henning (1866-1943) began producing moulages for medical teaching on behalf of the Medical Faculty of the University of Vienna. With his deceptively real depictions of medical conditions, Henning was considered one of the technically best makers of wax models of his time. He contributed significantly to the fact that moulages were not only regarded as a teaching aid, but also as masterpieces of craftsmanship. Due to the great success and the extensive use of his moulages, a separate institute for their production and reproduction was founded at the university. After the sudden death of Carl Henning, his son Theodor (1897 – 1946) took over the production.
Building on the special exhibition on moulages in 2024, larger parts of the collection can now be permanently presented in a dedicated theme room. The moulages not only have a medical-historical value, but also present real diseases – if they cannot be treated for various reasons.
Wax casts from clinical specimens were mainly used in medical teaching at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries to show students realistic clinical depictions without the need for patients.
In 1892, Carl Henning (1866-1943) began producing moulages for medical teaching on behalf of the Medical Faculty of the University of Vienna. With his deceptively real depictions of medical conditions, Henning was considered one of the technically best makers of wax models of his time. He contributed significantly to the fact that moulages were not only regarded as a teaching aid, but also as masterpieces of craftsmanship. Due to the great success and the extensive use of his moulages, a separate institute for their production and reproduction was founded at the university. After the sudden death of Carl Henning, his son Theodor (1897 – 1946) took over the production.
Building on the special exhibition on moulages in 2024, larger parts of the collection can now be permanently presented in a dedicated theme room. The moulages not only have a medical-historical value, but also present real diseases – if they cannot be treated for various reasons.
