Accession No
0757
Brief Description
spyglass/ prospect glass by Thomas Rubergall, c.1830
Origin
27 Coventry Street; London; England
Maker
Rubergall, Thomas
Class
optical
Earliest Date
1830
Latest Date
1830
Inscription Date
Material
ivory; metal (gilt); glass
Dimensions
length 32mm; breadth 43mm
Special Collection
Robert Whipple collection
Provenance
Inscription
‘Thos. Rubergall 27 Coventry St. London’
Description Notes
Ivory body. Relief decoration of circles; stained brown. Gilt mounts. 5 gilt draw tubes. Screw-in eyepiece with flange.
Condition: good/fair (draw tubes stiff).
References
Events
Description
R.S. Whipple’s interests as a collector included objects from the everyday world. He was particularly beguiled by two popular ways to improve eyesight: spectacles and opera glasses. Whilst today we might not think of these items as ‘scientific’, in the 18th and 19th century both were often the bread-and-butter trade of optical instrument-makers.
17/10/2025
Created by: Hannah Price on 17/10/2025
FM:42318
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