Accession No
0753
Brief Description
Stanhope lens, 1900 (c)
Origin
Maker
Class
optical
Earliest Date
1900
Latest Date
1900
Inscription Date
Material
ivory; metal; paper (cardboard); hide (leather)
Dimensions
case length 57mm; breadth 21mm; thickness 17mm
Special Collection
Robert Whipple collection
Provenance
Purchased from L.H. Spero, Kenton, Harrow, England, on 10/03/1934.
Inscription
Description Notes
Ivory handle with ring end; lens in metal mount (? pale brass / aluminium / steel); cardboard case, covered in black leather with leather flap cover.
(Whipple says “with forceps”, now missing).
Incomplete (forceps missing).
References
Events
Description
Stanhope lenses
The Stanhope lens is a thick piece of glass with two different convex curvatures on its surfaces. The more convex side is turned toward the eye, and the specimen is place directly onto the opposite side. A variant of the Stanhope lens was introduced in France and has a plane surface on the opposite side.
Stanhope lenses were used for diatoms, insect wings, and other objects that could easily attach themselves to the flat side with a drop of water.
18/10/2002
Created by: Saffron Clackson on 18/10/2002
FM:42536
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