Maker: Dolland
Telescopic spy glass in gilt bronze and tortoise shell inlaid with gold and mother-of-pearl
Two glass lenses set in gilt bronze with chased borders and tortoise shell inlaid with gold piqué point, piqué posé and mother-of-pearl. Cylindrical, telescopic action of seven tiers; the largest (which forms the case) set with a broad tortoiseshell band decorated with swags, scrolls and flowerheads. The top of the eyepiece is engraved 'DOLLAND, LONDON'.
History note: Not known before testator
Spencer George Perceval Bequest
Diameter: 4.9 cm
Height: 10.8 cm
Height: 4.2 cm
Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1922-03-07) by Perceval, Spencer George
18th Century, Late-19th Century, Early#
George III
1790
-
1820
John Dolland (1706-1761) and his son, Peter (1730-1820) were the foremost optical instrument makers in the mid 18th century. John was granted fellowship of the Royal Society in 1761, with Peter becaming optician to His Majesty, George III in 1763. When in 1806 Peter's nephew George Huggins (1774-1852) joined the business he changed his surname to Dolland. He, too, was elected to a fellowship of the Royal Society in 1819 and was active in founding the Astronomical Society in 1820.
Case
composed of
tortoise shell
Decoration
composed of
mother-of-pearl
gold
Surface
composed of
gold
Tiers
composed of
copper alloy
Accession number: PER.M.374-1923
Primary reference Number: 150662
Stable URI
Owner or interested party:
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department:
Applied Arts
This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:
The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Spy glass" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/150662 Accessed: 2024-11-12 23:06:46
To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:
{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/150662
|title=Spy glass
|author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-12 23:06:46|publisher=The
University of Cambridge}}
To call these data via our API (remember this needs to be authenticated) you can use this code snippet:
https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/api/v1/objects/object-150662
Updates about future exhibitions and displays, family activities, virtual events & news. You'll be the first to know...