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Lot 714
A late 19th century Chinese export lacquer work table, decorated dwellings and trees, within a border having dragons, the lift up top revealing a fitted interior, on turned legs with dragon head sledge feet joined by a turned pole stretcher, 63 cm wide See inside back cover colour illustration Condition report ReportLacks pull out work bag, general wear and rubbing, the interior bright and fresh as you would expect, the frame quite wobblyReport by GHGenerally very wobbly and loose and comes apart when you try and move it. Corners and edges knocked and with losses, and some splits where the wood joints are. Stretcher beneath particularly chipped. Top of piece a little rubbed. Interior with a couple of small chips, however, ivory inserts generally in good condition and altogether nice and clean.It does not appear to have had any work or restoration.
Lot 184
A Brewster-Pattern Pedestal Dioramic Stereoscope, by G. Lowden, Dundee, signed to oval ivory plaque on top 'PATENT DIORAMIC STEREOSCOPE, MADE BY G. LOWDEN, OPTICIAN, DUNDEE' and impressed with the number '20', walnut & satin wood veneered case with hinged top, solid wood rear for opaque views only, hinged top, push pull focus to front lens panel, viewing lenses in turned horn collars to front panel, raised on a fluted mahogany pedestal, height adjustment via a wooden screw above turned base, height 34cmA rare opportunity to acquire one of the earliest known (serial No.20) lenticular stereoscopes by George Lowden, the instrument maker responsible for producing Dr. David Brewster’s first ever stereoscope. The lenticular (use of lenses to get a 3D effect) stereoscope was invented by Dr. David Brewster and proved over time to be his best selling invention. Brewster first took his original design of a lenticular stereoscope to a local instrument maker in Dundee, George Lowden. Lowden started making Scientific instruments at the age of 24(1). In 1849 Lowden made several of Brewster’s lenticular stereoscopes which in turn were given away by Brewster to the nobility of England to promote the new discovery of stereo photography (2). Unfortunately, they were given a rather lukewarm reception and as a result were not a successful commercial venture. In Lowden’s autobiography(3) Lowden recounts the development of the stereoscope and how he came to fall out with Brewster:‘Fortunately for me at the end of 1849 I got acquainted with that nobelman so well and favourably known to all Dundonians, George Lord Kinnard, and through him was introduced to many of the servants who were entertained by his lordship at Rossie Priory. Among these was sir David Brewster, who at this period (1849) invented his stereoscope, and I got the making of the first one and sending the copies of it to many scientific men all over Europe. Later on I also improved on them and made a great number for many years afterwards. The fault of Brewster’s stereoscope was that the lens’ were to small, being in fact, only two halved of a spectacle glass. This did not suit every eye and in experimenting I discovered that larger lenses were and advantage. I pointed this out to Brewster but he was wedded to his opinion, and as I feared the idea might be taken up by another, I took out a patent for my improvement – which experience has amply justified – but my action was, unfortunately, resented by Brewster, and gave rise to considerable friction, for which I did not consider I was to blame, seeing that I had pointed out the improvement and he had refused it’Following the disagreement Brewster in 1850, unable to convince another English company to manufacture his stereoscope, visited the French firm of Duboscq et Soliel in Paris, a company that specialised in optical instrument manufacture. Here Brewster showed Duboscq an example of Lowden’s stereoscope. Duboscq produced a model that was exhibited by Brewster at the 1851 great exhibition in London. It attracted the attention of Queen Victoria who was very impressed with the effect it gave. Brewster then presented theQueen with an example of Duboscq’s stereoscope with some accompanying stereo photographs. Queen Victoria’s interest sparked huge demand for the stereoscope and in 1856 Brewster reported sales of over half a million stereoscopes. The principle of Brewster’s lenticular stereoscope has survived until present day being essentially the same as the optical system used on the very latest Virtual reality headsets.Notes:, According to Dr A. D Morrison Low & J. R. R. Christie in their book Martyr of Science, Sir David Brewster, ‘No original Lowden stereoscope has ever been traced, although microscopes (INV RSM TY 1980.238 and A56557 in the Welcome Museum) and telescopes and a camera are known to have been retailed by Lowden’. Since Morison Low’s & Christie’s book, published in 1984, one other Lowden stereoscope has come to light. This stereoscope is held at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. It was purchased by the museum in 1999 with New Zealand Lottery Grant Board Funds( Registration Number GH007816). Its condition and serial number are unknown. References 1. H. Millar,James Bowman Lindsay and other pioneers of invention ( Edinburgh 19250 , p86, Lowden is assessed and an instrument maker by Clarke. 2. D Brewster, Binocular vision & the stereoscope, North British Review, 1856, 176. 3. D. Morrison-Low & J. R. R. Christie, Martyr Of Science: Sir David Brewster 1781-1868. P62 Provenance: From the Maurice Gillet collection.10/09/2017 Condition Report: Very good condition, optically and structurally, no damage to viewer or stand all appears original, no signs of repair, no significant wear.
Lot 154
A 17th Century Ivory Magnetic Azimuth Pocket Sundial, by Charles Bloud, circa 1670, Leaf 1a – Equinoctial dial numbered 1-12, 1-12 divided to 30 minutes, and a polar dial 8–12-4. The ivory with typical Dieppe decoration.Leaf 1b – Lunar volvelle consisting of fixed calendar with hour scale and rotating lunar age scale disc and moon-phase disc. On the right is a latitude scale for use with the equinoctial dial.Leaf 2a – Magnetic azimuth dial with printed compass card with latitudes of various European cities. Slot on right carries strut for use with latitude scale on 1b.Leaf 2b – Date scale and perpetual calendar on silver volvelle, signed Bloud, Dieppe, circa 1670 ( § )
Lot 85
Three Treen Powder Dispensers, including a glove powder-er to dispense talcum powder, a dispenser with interior grater and a boxwood and ivory example (3) ( § )10/09/2017 Condition Report: Item with grater missing cap and with cracks to stem, glove powderer missing cap, boxwood example has two small cracks to ivory. Good patina to all three items.
Lot 176
An 18th Century Monocular / Opera Glass, by Dollond, black-stained ivory and tortoiseshell, with silver bands, single draw, in silvered brass, signed 'Dollond London', in velvet lined black sharkskin case ( § )09/09/2017 Condition Report: Good condition overall, but one pressure flake (shallow chip) to interior of objective lens, extending 5mm from the edge. Some scratches to the tortoiseshell. Sharkskin in good condition with light wear, catch working
Lot 601
A quantity of costume jewellery to include yellow and white metal jewellery, gentleman's watches, a ladies pearl and paste cocktail watch, paste set brooches, faux pearl strands, glass beads, cufflinks, travel clocks, ladies compacts, enamel buttons, A Royal Crown Derby brooch, a silver and resin kingfisher pendant, a watch ring and a boxed strand of cultured pearls a/f and two Victorian fans with ivory type and lace (one bag)
Lot 495
A stick/cravat pin 9ct gold set with pearl in original case Ivory and dear foot toggle, silver case propelling pencil, gilt metal ends lead holder, a pair of 1930s gilt metal cuff links with hound heads, a Regency hardstone and yellow metal brooch, a pair of white metal Arabian cuff links, a serpentine and silver ring, a 9ct gold sweetheart brooch, with hair verso and ruby diamond (v small) front
Lot 1497
A cased portable dressing table set containing jars, brushes, implements, mirror and a 1903 greetings card etc, a 'French ivory' manicure set including nail buffer, shoe horn etc. contained within a leather roll, a cased faux ivory buttonhook, shoehorn and glove stretcher set and some loose mother of pearl handled manicure items.
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239713 item(s)/page