With its sliding brass eyepiece shutter, gilt-tooled vellum draw-tube and brass and lignum collared green rayskin outer tube, this Edmund Culpeper compound microscope (Lot 7), consigned to October’s auction of Fine Clocks, Barometers & Scientific Instruments is indeed an instrument of scientific beauty.
The microscope, which dates back to the 1730s, has survived in fine, original and unrestored condition having been in the same family ownership for as long as anyone can remember. It also retains almost all of its accessories which include a glass fishplate scratch-engraved with Culpeper’s signature.
The marvellous aesthetic appeal of the microscope has earned it a pre-sale estimate of £7,000-10,000 (+fees) from our experts.
Born in Dorset, England, Edmund Culpeper began his career as an engraver before becoming an apprentice to London’s famous scientific instrument maker Walter Hayes. Working primarily between 1700 and 1737 honing his own remarkable skills in the construction of scientific instruments, Culpeper soon established his own fame in the optical and mathematical fields.
After making simple microscopes, Culpeper invented the Tripod compound microscope (sometime between 1725 and 1730) and made at least five major modifications in the years before his death.
This brilliant compound microscope, along with an impressive collection of over 200 clocks, barometers and scientific instruments will go under the hammer at Donnington Priory on 2 October 2019.
Click here to view all the lots consigned to this sale.
VIEWING:
Sunday 29 September: 10am-2pm
Monday 30 September: 9am-5.30pm
Tuesday 1 October: 9am-4.30pm
Day of sale: from 8.30am
AUCTION DATE & LOCATION:
Wednesday 2 October 2019 | 10.30am
Dreweatts, Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE
CONTACT US:
Tel: + 44 (0) 1635 553 553
Email: clocks@dreweatts.com
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