Accession No
0828
Brief Description
scioptic ball, English, 1750-1800
Origin
England
Maker
Class
optical
Earliest Date
1750
Latest Date
1800
Inscription Date
Material
wood (mahogany; walnut); glass
Dimensions
length 164mm; breadth 160mm; height 94mm
Special Collection
Robert Whipple collection
Provenance
Purchased by Robert Stewart Whipple from T. H. Court, Harrow, England, in 04/1937.
Inscription
Description Notes
In mahogany and walnut; mahogany frame; pierced for fastening at two opposite corners. Walnut ball held in frame by mahogany ferrule. Lenses set in walnut cells. Front lens aperture 44mm, scratched on inner face ‘10 feet’; rear lens aperture 44mm, scratched on inner face ‘8 feet’ (?).
Condition: fair (wood slightly cracked); complete.
References
Events
Description
The scioptic ball was devised to allow images to be formed in a darkened room, and has a lens mounted in a wooden ball-shaped mount so that it can be swivelled around to see specific parts of the scene in front. It works in a similar way to the human eye.
Scioptic balls generally have lenses taken from a camera obscura and can fit into a socket in a window shutter to allow someone inside to project an image of the scenery outside.
Created by: Izzie Foote
FM:42322
Images (Click to view full size):
