International Working Group for Wax Models (IWWM)
Medical wax model collections have been the subject of renewed scientific interest since the turn of the millennium. As part of the material turn, scholars in history and cultural studies increasingly study historical objects in museums and university collections. Wax moulages in particular, with their specific characteristics, have attracted attention from medical professionals and historians alike.
A German-speaking Moulages Working Group was formed in Berlin in 2013, following a major international conference in Dresden 2009. Ten years later, at a meeting in Zurich in 2023, the circle of participants was expanded to represent collections from all over the world. As an international working group, we now take the next step and join the newly founded International Association of Medical Museums and Collections (IAMMC) as the International Working Group on Medical Wax Models (IWWM).
The aim of the IWWM is to:
- expand the network among the collections
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ensure professional conservation and restoration
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consider ethical aspects of the use of wax moulages
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support the use of wax moulages as
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historical documents
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cultural assets
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in modern teaching
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in public exhibitions
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promote local and international research projects
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improve financing options