HomeStore

Swiss Gold and Enamel Telescope

Product image 1
1 / 5

Swiss Gold and Enamel Telescope

Scientifically advanced and exquisitely crafted, this rare 19th-century gold and enamel Swiss telescope is an item of exceptional luxury. The Swiss creation not only provides a magnified view with optimal clarity, but also showcases remarkable decoration in the form of elegant gold chasing and an enamel scene of tavern-goers holding hands and sharing a dance. Such a beautifully crafted item would have been created for the personal use of a wealthy and affluent individual.

One of the most significant inventions of the modern age, the telescope was initially developed and came to public attention in the Netherlands circa 1600. However, it was in 1609 that Italian inventor Galileo Galilei improved upon the mechanism, thereby further advancing modern astronomy. His humble instrument, now preserved in the History of Science Museum in Florence, is a one-and-a-half-inch lens displayed in an ornate frame. Others soon followed. Fitted into simple wooden tubes just a few feet long, Galileo’s lenses magnified the heavens, bringing the moon, sunspots and nearby planets into focus. The present piece is an exquisite example of this scientific tradition.

Circa 1820

3 1/8” length x 2" diameter
Scientifically advanced and exquisitely crafted, this rare 19th-century gold and enamel Swiss telescope is an item of exceptional luxury. The Swiss creation not only provides a magnified view with optimal clarity, but also showcases remarkable decoration in the form of elegant gold chasing and an enamel scene of tavern-goers holding hands and sharing a dance. Such a beautifully crafted item would have been created for the personal use of a wealthy and affluent individual.

One of the most significant inventions of the modern age, the telescope was initially developed and came to public attention in the Netherlands circa 1600. However, it was in 1609 that Italian inventor Galileo Galilei improved upon the mechanism, thereby further advancing modern astronomy. His humble instrument, now preserved in the History of Science Museum in Florence, is a one-and-a-half-inch lens displayed in an ornate frame. Others soon followed. Fitted into simple wooden tubes just a few feet long, Galileo’s lenses magnified the heavens, bringing the moon, sunspots and nearby planets into focus. The present piece is an exquisite example of this scientific tradition.

Circa 1820

3 1/8” length x 2" diameter
$27,475.00

Original: $78,500.00

-65%
Swiss Gold and Enamel Telescope

$78,500.00

$27,475.00

Description

Scientifically advanced and exquisitely crafted, this rare 19th-century gold and enamel Swiss telescope is an item of exceptional luxury. The Swiss creation not only provides a magnified view with optimal clarity, but also showcases remarkable decoration in the form of elegant gold chasing and an enamel scene of tavern-goers holding hands and sharing a dance. Such a beautifully crafted item would have been created for the personal use of a wealthy and affluent individual.

One of the most significant inventions of the modern age, the telescope was initially developed and came to public attention in the Netherlands circa 1600. However, it was in 1609 that Italian inventor Galileo Galilei improved upon the mechanism, thereby further advancing modern astronomy. His humble instrument, now preserved in the History of Science Museum in Florence, is a one-and-a-half-inch lens displayed in an ornate frame. Others soon followed. Fitted into simple wooden tubes just a few feet long, Galileo’s lenses magnified the heavens, bringing the moon, sunspots and nearby planets into focus. The present piece is an exquisite example of this scientific tradition.

Circa 1820

3 1/8” length x 2" diameter

You may also like

NEW
Thumbnail 1Thumbnail 2

Baccarat Crystal Chandelier, 24-Light 

$64,500.00

NEW
Thumbnail 1Thumbnail 2

George III Silver Tray for Lt. Robert Chester

$49,850.00

NEW
Thumbnail 1Thumbnail 2

Continental Silver Gilt Salt Cellars

$28,850.00

NEW
Thumbnail 1Thumbnail 2

White Marble and Gilt Bronze Russian Chandelier

$88,500.00

NEW
Thumbnail 1Thumbnail 2

Indian Arivalmanai Culinary Cutting Tool

$19,850.00

NEW
Thumbnail 1Thumbnail 2

Old Sheffield Silver Plate Venison Dish with Cover

$12,850.00

-65%NEW
Thumbnail 1Thumbnail 2

Victorian Parcel Gilt Vase by D & C Houle

$68,500.00

$23,975.00

-65%NEW
Thumbnail 1Thumbnail 2

Tomb of the Scipios Grand Tour Souvenir 

$14,500.00

$5,075.00

-65%NEW
Thumbnail 1Thumbnail 2

Sèvres Porcelain-Mounted Bureau Plat

$78,500.00

$27,475.00

-65%NEW
Thumbnail 1Thumbnail 2

Victorian Nécessaire de Voyage

$14,500.00

$5,075.00

-65%NEW
Thumbnail 1Thumbnail 2

Elkington & Co. Silverplate Charger by Morel-Ladeuil

$9,850.00

$3,447.50

-65%NEW
Thumbnail 1Thumbnail 2

French Copper and Enamel Cabinet Vase

$2,450.00

$857.50

Swiss Gold and Enamel Telescope | M.S. Rau