Photograph of the outer surface of a coral skeleton, showing at very high magnification its complex three-dimensional microscopical structure. The image offers great detail and depth. We see many, evenly distributed small pores and apertures along the entire surface. Scattered on the surface are larger, depressed clusters of pores arranged like 12-armed stars. By looking in detail, we can see further, smaller porous structures inside these depressions. In the foreground, the surface forms six berry-shaped porous buds. There are no living polyps in the image, but only the outer skeleton structure. The surface has a stony appearance. The image is colorful, with gradations from teal, purple, pink, orange to yellow. Different hues are arranged like shadows, so that parts of the image that appear closer to the viewer have cooler colors, and warmer colors in parts of the image that are further away from the viewer. A predominance of yellow in the upper right suggests a source of light from that direction. In close-up this arrangement of colors appears also within individual pores. In this detailed and consistent manner across different scales, color strongly enhances the impression of three-dimensionality of the image.

See more objects with the tag coral, magnified, organic shapes.

Object Timeline

	We acquired this object.
2019	We photographed this object. We exhibited this object. Work on this object began.
2024	You found it!

Electron Micrographs, 2019

It was designed by James C. Weaver and Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering. It is dated 2019. Its medium is images on monitors. It is a part of the department.

James C. Weaver produces electron micrographs using a customized multi-detector scanning electron microscope, which scans the surface of a sample using a focused beam of high-energy electrons. The signals from each of the detectors are color-coded and subsequently recombined, creating a polychromatic electron micrograph. Unique to this process, color information is automatically generated during image acquisition, and not through manual post-processing. Variability in surface topography is revealed in a dazzling array of hues. The images shown here, of farmed coral specimens from the tropical Indo-Pacific, demonstrate the skeletal complexity of these incredibly diverse and ecologically important marine invertebrates.

It is credited Courtesy of James C. Weaver.

Solid C2 Chair
epoxy resin.
Museum purchase from the Members' Acquisitions Fund of Cooper-Hewitt,....
2009-8-1

Sidewall (USA)
machine-printed paper.
Gift of Suzanne Lipschutz.
1991-89-8

This rectangular embroidery sample has a silver and gold floral design composed of a variety of materials: silk threads, cotton appliqué, and metal threads, coils, sequins, and beads. The background fabric is dark green velvet patterned with tiny golden-yellow dots. The sample is surrounded by a cream-colored paper enclosure; at the right side of the sample, a crinkled brown paper is folded away. Along the left edge of the sample is a line of gold thread and sequins, with a stylized floral border in gold and silver threads. To the right of the border, stacked vertically, are three large groups of silver trumpet-shaped flowers, with gold foliage. The flowers appear to be pale grey appliqué, with accents of silver threads. Round matte bluish silver beads and clustered grey silk French knots ornament the open ends of the flowers. The dull gold blade-shaped leaves have gold sequins along the curved spines, and on the caps of the flowers. Fronds of delicate gold leaves with gold coil accents finish the bouquets. The top and bottom groups are the same design: four flowers, two large flowers nodding down, two medium flowers facing up and out. The middle grouping has three medium flowers clustered together, facing down and out.

Embroidery Sample (France)
silk thread, silk chenille thread, cotton gauze appliqué, flat gold and....
Museum purchase from Au Panier Fleuri Fund.
1932-1-8

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Nature—Cooper Hewitt Design Triennial.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/4wUs79/
Accession Number NATURE.003
Object ID 2318798828