retrospect

They're not some modern thing. These are glass stuffed sea creatures made in the late 19th century.

In those years, natural history museums were just beginning to appear in the world to show people the diversity of the world around them. But this did not work with jellyfish and the like - well, they did not keep a decent appearance even in a spirit jar. Then glass came to the rescue, which was used to make a complete copy of a living creature.

Both beautiful and meaningful. Authors in the photo.

You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending. 
- C. S. Lewis

Sometimes it seems that without modern technology, people have created more complex and interesting work

Yeah, if you think about it. Now we have CNC (computer numerical control machines), but their parts are made on simple machines, parts for simple machines are made with tools, tools were made by hand from sticks and stones... bam, heads explode!)