When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
The stereoscope from this era is a rare find.
It is a 19th century inspiration combining technology andaesthetic design.
This magnifying viewer, called a stereoscope, opens up twiceand has 3 portals to see enlarged views of a cabinet photograph or a postcard.The stereoscope was an improvement on the monoscope (which had one viewer for magnification).
The cabinet is a carved wood case with a black lacquerfinish. Upon close inspection, the design on the lid is not painted on. It iscarved into the wood. What appears as blond wood (the flowers and the thin, decorative line)may be the exposed underlying wood. An expert (not I) would know if the designis marquetry (wood inlaid in wood).
The large dominating circular lens is in the lid with 2small lenses adjacent.
There are 2 hinges and 2 hinged compartments on 2 push-buttonopenings in the box. You open one, then the other.
The corner legs have metal protectors.
All the fittings (hinges, knob, stanchions) seem to be brassand are non-ferrous. The push-button openings and the corner protectors arealso non-ferrous (do not respond to a magnet) and may be silver plate on brass.
The easel slides.
Dimensions when closed: 11½” x 7½” x 3”
When opened on both levels, the stereoscope opens from 3” to10” tall.
There is a crack running the length of the underside (seephotograph) that does not impact the viewing or the viewer. On one side, there is a slight indentation in the wood that was there when we acquired the stereoscope long ago.
