Wax busts from Behrendt’s Panopticon, founded in 1885, representing people from America, Australia, Asia, and Africa, 1886-1895

Richard Kotschi & Rudolf Pohl

Exhibited by Kunstkammer Georg Laue

Material Wax, coloured and partly painted, textile

Dimensions Height 32–53 cm

Place of Creation Leipzig and Dresden

Status Vetted

About the Work

These exquisite wax busts were created in 1886–1895 by the Leipzig wax modeller Richard Kotschi (1854–1908) and the Dresden wax modeller Rudolf Pohl (1852–1926) for display in the 'Scientific Museum and Panopticon', which was founded by the showman Georg Behrendt in 1885. This venture toured Germany with an exhibition of wax sculptures and natural history specimens until the mid-20th century. Among the wax sculptures on display was a series of busts depicting people from all around the world. Alongside the 'Völkerschauen' (ethnic shows) that took place throughout Europe from the 1880s onwards, these wax busts demonstrated the public's high-interest for exotic spectacles with pseudoscientific character. Thereby, Behrendt's Panopticon perpetuates stereotypical representations of foreign ethnic groups that align with the Eurocentric views of colonial powers, which can certainly be seen as a sublimation of colonialism. Above all, these superb wax busts celebrate the beauty of the 'Other' through high-quality sculptures of great artistic value.

The busts from Behrendt’s Panopticon are featured in the special exhibition ‘Wax. The Beauty of Mankind’ that Kunstkammer Georg Laue will be presenting from 14 to 19 March 2026 at TEFAF Maastricht, stand no. 204.

Show moreless

Provenance

Herford, Behrendt’s Panopticon and by descent in the Behrendt family

Literature

Published in: Georg Laue: Wax. From the Renaissance Kunstkammer to the modern Panopticon, Munich 2026

References: J. Kreil: Der Mensch aus Wachs. Das Anatomische Panoptikum im Deutschen Hygiene-Museum Dresden – Geschichte, Herstellung und Erhaltung, Munich 2025, pp. 144–151, pp. 154–244; C. Ludwig: „Völkerschauen“ aus Wachs, in: C. Ludwig / A. Rudolph / T. Steller / V. Strähle (eds.): Menschen anschauen. Selbst- und Fremdinszenierungen in Dresdner Menschenausstellungen, cat. exh. Stadtmuseum in Dresden, Dresden 2023, pp. 176–183; R. Brändle: „Wilde, die sich hier sehen lassen“. Jahrmarkt, frühe Völkerschauen und Schaustellerei, Zurich 2023; Dreesbach, A. Gezähmte Wilde. Zur Schaustellung „exotischer“ Menschen in Deutschland 1870-1940, Frankfurt a.M. / New York 2005; L. Kosok / M. Jamin (ed.): Viel Vergnügen. Öffentliche Lustbarkeiten im Ruhrgebiet der Jahrhundertwende, cat. exh. Ruhrlandmuseum in Essen, Essen 1992