Microscope

Add to album

This hand-held microscope was made in England in the early 18th century. It is unsigned.

The instrument has an ivory body and handle. It has variety of accessories in a shagreen case including eight object glasses, a lens carrier for opaque objects, a black and ivory disc in brass frame, an ivory box for mica discs, and nine object slides.

Invented by the Dutchman Nicolaas Hartsoeker, this type of instrument was known as a Wilson screw barrel microscope, after James Wilson of London who popularised the design in England in a publication of 1702.

Record details

To search on related items, click any underlined text below.

• Online ID: 000-100-104-219-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1938.37
• Date: Early 18th century
  
• Material: Ivory body and handle / shagreen case / ivory disc, brass frame / ivory box / mica discs
  Microscope, hand, screw barrel, Wilson / case / microscope access
  
• Dimensions: 2.00" L x 1.13" D / 7.00" L x 2.50" W
  
• What: Microscope, hand, screw barrel, Wilson / case / microscope access
  
• Subject: 22. PHYSICS, Light (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who: Wilson (Eponym)
  
• Where: England
  
• Event:
• Description: Hand microscope of the Wilson screw barrel type, body and handle of ivory, in a shagreen case, with a variety of microscope accessories, early 18th century
  
• References:
  • For other Wilson screw-barrel microscopes, see Turner, G. L'E., The Great Age of the Microscope: the Collection of the Royal Microscopical Society through 150 years. Bristol & New York, 1989 pp 249-257 
• Translations:
• Related Records: