Culpeper-type compound microscope
Date1730-1747
Inventory Number1181
ClassificationMicroscope
Subject
Maker
Matthew Loft
fl. 1724 - 1747
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensions43.5 x 17 x 17 cm (17 1/8 x 6 11/16 x 6 11/16 in.)
case: 46 x 20 x 20 cm (18 1/8 x 7 7/8 x 7 7/8 in.)
case: 46 x 20 x 20 cm (18 1/8 x 7 7/8 x 7 7/8 in.)
Material
Accessoriesobjective (5); spring slide holder; circular carrier (10 objects); stage forceps; cone diaphragm; ivory slider (2); round glass disc; brass ring; ivory box of covers; frog plate; key for case
DescriptionThe body of this microscope is made of oak tubes and turned lignum vitae. The draw tube is covered with green vellum, on which were drawn all-purpose focusing lines. The outer card tube is covered with grey-stained shagreen. There is no geared or mechanical system for providing a finer focus. The instrument is supported by three curved pillars, in the center of which is attached a 10-specimen stage. A substage mirror, fixed to the base, provides light on the stage. The pillars are screwed on an octagonal base with decorative diamond-shaped attachments. The base has a front drawer, filled with accessories. A pyramidal oak case is used to put the microscope away.
In Collection(s)
Signedbottom of drawer: Matthew Loft / Maker at the Golden / Spectacles the Backside / of the Royal Exchange / London
Curatorial RemarksLoft's trade card glued at the bottom of the case gives a lot of information on what he could make and what he sold. See image.
FunctionWhen Thomas Hollis II sent a microscope to Harvard in 1732, he wrote that the Hollis professor should "make good use of [it], for the promoting [of] usefull knowledge and the advancement of natural and revealed religion." Microscopes revealed invisible worlds to the eye. They showed how the great chain of being reached down to creatures in the smallest droplets, thereby reinforcing the idea of plurality of worlds and divine providence.
ProvenanceDavid Wheatland purchased from Alain Brieux April 4, 1962, Paris (lot 4/15). Donated to CHSI January 28, 1963.
Matthew Loft
Date: 1730-1747
Accessories: 5 Objectives:1, 2, 3, 4, 5; round specimen carrier with eight preparations plus black and white discs; fish plate; stage forceps; live box; ivory box for cover glasses; cone diaphragm; pyramidal case.
Object number: 1180
Matthew Loft
Date: 1730-1747
Accessories: ocular (1); objectives (6); fish plate; substage cone diaphragm; round spring slide holder; stage forceps; bull's eye condenser; wet specimen glass cup; rotating slide speciment holder with black and white disks; small black and white disks as bead on cord; brass spring; spare collar from an ocular; pyramidal box.
Object number: 1242
English
Date: circa 1750
Accessories: 5 objectives; fish plate; hand magnifier; diffusor; cone; stage forceps; 4 ivory slides; 1 glass slide; ivory box with mica covers and wire rings; spring stage for slides; pyramidal box.
Object number: 1049
Edmund Culpeper
Date: circa 1730
Accessories: frog (fish) plate; 3 long bone slides; 1 short ivory slide; a slide holder; 4 objectives; watch glass; diverse glasses; ivory box with mica covers and wire rings; dark plate; chamois
Object number: 1048
English
Date: 1735-1745
Accessories: 5 objectives; 3 ivory slides; 1 brass slide; 2 rough pieces of glass; 2 stage forceps and pins; black / white disk in ebony with ivory inset; spring stage; live box.
Object number: 2002-1-0054
John Marshall
Date: 1690-1700
Accessories: objective (5); lens, glass bowl, ivory box (3) containing talc; graduated cylinder; ruler; ivory objective; tweezers; fish-plate tweezers; ivory spoon, specimen holder (3)
Object number: 1000
Claude Paris
Date: 1745-1750
Accessories: 4 objectives in wooden mounts; 2 pin wrenches; stage forceps; 4 wood slides with two specimens each.
Object number: 1183
Robert Brettell Bate
Date: 1808-1830
Accessories: 3 Obj.:1, 3, 4; spring slider holder; 4 ivory sliders; stage forceps; frog plate; tweezers; cone diaphragm; pyramidal case.
Object number: 1233
Benjamin Wood
Date: 1820
Accessories: 10 objectives, numbered 1-10 (caps on 1 and 2); 4 objectives with lieberkuhns (one lens missing); 2 oculars; 3 simple lenses in eye cups; diaphragm cone; live box; spring stage; three-wing stage; double-convex lens on rod; simple-lens carrier on an arm; ivory black/white disk; 1 ivory disk with cork; 3 flat glass disks of differing sizes; 1 large glass disk in threaded brass rim; 1 watch glass; 3 large glass, magnifying lenses, one tinted green; 2 small magnifying glasses; stage condensor; fish plate; 2 stage forceps; 1 stage 3-pronged gripper; tweezers; 3 ivory handled knives for preparations; 10 small and 3 medium ivory slides of transparent specimens; 3 ivory slides of opaque specimens; 3 boxwood slides of transparent specimens; 1 brass wet-cell slide with 4 apertures for preparations; 2 cylindrical ivory boxes with mica cover slips and snap rings; wrench; chamois; flat case with sockets for the above; key.
Object number: 1002
Claude-Siméon Passemant
Date: 1749-1769
Accessories: ocular; objectives (7); bull's eye condenser; Lieberkühn for stage mounting; cone diaphragm; spring frame for slides; frog plate; stage forceps; large and small black and white disks (2); round micrometer slide with fine wire screen; low-power lens; black aperture disk; brass slider for 4 specimens; ivory slides--rectangular (6); ivory slides--circular (2); brass slide with aperture to hold circular ivory slides; boxes (2) of round ivory slides (40 in total).
Object number: 1182
English
Date: 1750-1825
Accessories: In drawer (1179b): 4 objectives: 1, 3, 4, 5; tweezers; stage forceps; 12 numbered ivory slides; brass slider; 3 glass slides; brush; ivory case for covers; egg shaped ivory case; small planoconvex lens. Pyramidal case .
Object number: 1179a
Charles Lincoln
Date: 1770-1775
Accessories: 5 objectives; 1 Lieberkühn; 1 cone; tadpole glasses and wire; 6 ivory slides; mica covers and wire rings; stage bull's eye magnifier; 2 hand magnifiers; spring slide holder; fish plate; instruction booklet; fold out plate (glued to cardstock); list of objects on slides.
Object number: 1047