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For sale is a matched left and right pair of vintage mid-century anatomical human femur models, acquired as part of a single estate lot where all other items were dated from the 1950s to the mid-1960s.
Identification & Manufacturer:
Unmarked, as was common for classroom sets of this era that were sold as part of larger disarticulated skeletons. Based on material, construction, and hand-painted lacquer finish, these are consistent with American teaching models produced by Denoyer-Geppert Co. (Chicago) or Clay-Adams in the late 1950s to early 1960s. The same mold and vinyl process was also used by Somso in Germany during this period. They are early vinyl-plastic / hard resin, not modern solid polyurethane.
They are not real human bone - they are resin teaching replicas, fully Hollow cast vinyl plastic / early resin, cast from molds taken from a natural bone specimen
• Factory hand-finished with tinted lacquer wash - base bone color with darker umber / yellow-brown dry brush in porous areas (femoral head, greater and lesser trochanters, condyles, intercondylar fossa)
• Visible mold seam line around femoral head (see photo 4) with lacquer brushed over
• Small pinholes / air bubbles typical of early vinyl casting (see close-ups)
• Anatomically accurate - includes femoral head with fovea, neck, greater trochanter, lesser trochanter, linea aspera, lateral and medial vintage classroom condition. Both show age-appropriate crazing / alligatoring of the original nitrocellulose-type lacquer, which has yellowed to a warm mustard patina with age and UV exposure - this is original finish, not dirt. Light handling wear / burnishing on the femoral heads where students handled them for decades (see photo 6, flat buffed spot). No cracks, breaks, or repairs. No melt or warping. Some lacquer pooling in deep texture as originally applied.
Measurements:
• Approximate length: 18 inches (46cm) each - life size adult
• solid, resin nice weight
Provenance:
From a single lot of scientific / teaching items all dated 1950s to mid-1960s. Kept together as a left/right pair.
What you get:
2x Vintage Anatomical Femur - 1 Left, 1 Right - as photographed.
Perfect for curio cabinet, oddities collection, gothic / medical decor, artist reference, or mid-century science classroom collection.
Clean with damp cloth only - do not use alcohol, acetone, or abrasives or you will remove the original hand-tinted lacquer.
