Accession No

6692

Brief Description

tourmaline tongs, device for polarising light, 19th Century

Origin

Maker

Class

optical

Earliest Date

1800

Latest Date

1900

Inscription Date

Material

metal (brass); tourmaline

Dimensions

215mm (length) x 35mm (width) x 37mm (height)

Special Collection

Michael J. Clark Bequest

Provenance

Inscription

Description Notes

Tourmaline tongs, device for polarising light, C19th

Two circular pieces of tourmaline set into two curved brass discs, with the facing sides painted black, held by a curved brass wire and kept in place with a brass bracket (so that only the distance between the two brass discs can be adjusted and only to a certain extent). Used as a device for polarising light.

Condition: fair (both pieces of tourmaline cracked and scratched).

References

Events