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A Dr Brewster's Patent Kaleidoscope,

Schätzpreis
5.000 £ - 8.000 £
ca. 6.219 $ - 9.951 $
Zuschlagspreis:
6.937 £
ca. 8.629 $
Auktionsarchiv: Los-Nr. 4

A Dr Brewster's Patent Kaleidoscope,

Schätzpreis
5.000 £ - 8.000 £
ca. 6.219 $ - 9.951 $
Zuschlagspreis:
6.937 £
ca. 8.629 $
Beschreibung:

A Dr Brewster's Patent Kaleidoscope, English, mid 19th century, engraved with royal coat of arms and signed DR BREWSTER'S PATENT NO.8, probably made by R. B. Bate, the conical brass body tube with revolving frosted glass objective, supported in a collar above brass column and folding tripod base, tube 5½in (14cm) long Fußnoten Sir David Brewster (1781- 1868) was a scientist and inventor working in Britain during the 19th century whose studies of physical optics led him to invent several noteworthy scientific instruments, including the kaleidoscope. Born in Roxburghshire in 1781, Brewster began studying Theology at the University of Edinburgh at the age of 12. Despite completing his university education and becoming a minister of the Church of Scotland when he was just nineteen years old, Brewster soon left his career in the Church to pursue his passion for science. From as early as 1799, Brewster was studying the diffraction of light and from 1801 he devoted himself to the study of optics. He was at the forefront of 19th century scientific innovation, making ground-breaking discoveries relating to the polarization of light, the optical properties found in crystals, the optical laws of metallic reflection and light absorption, and the fields of photoelasticity, and optical minerology. Brewster was elected to the Royal Society of London in 1815 and invented the kaleidoscope the following year. Built on the long-established but basic understanding of reflective symmetry, the Kaleidoscope was the culmination of Brewster's exploration into optics. The name 'Kaleidoscope' itself is derived from the Ancient Greek words for beautiful (Kalos), form or shape (eidos), and 'to examine' (skopeō); an appropriate name for an object which allows for the examination of beautiful forms. Brewster's Kaleidoscope was patented in 1817. However, before the patent was granted the design for the kaleidoscope had been reproduced, resulting in hundreds of thousands being sold without Brewster receiving renumeration. In addition to the kaleidoscope, Brewster's understanding of physical optics led him to create the lenticular stereoscope, the binocular camera, the polyzonal lens, two polarimeters and an optical system for lighthouses which led to the improvement of lighthouse beams across the country. Throughout his prolific career Brewster wrote 315 papers for scientific societies and various Scientific reviews. He was editor for the Edinburgh Magazine and The Edinburgh Encyclopaedia, contributed significantly to the seventh and eight editions of The Encyclopaedia Britannica and in 1819 he co-founded the Edinburgh Philosophical Journal. Additionally, Brewster was a key influence in the founding of the British Association for the Advancement of Science in 1831. His significant contribution to the scientific community was recognised later that year when he received a knighthood and became a member of the Royal Guelphic Order. Brewster was Principal of the United Colleges of St. Salvator and St. Leonard in St. Andrews from 1837 and in 1859 he became Principal of the University of Edinburgh, a position he held until his death in 1868. Amongst Brewster's many inventions and contributions to scientific understanding, the Kaleidoscope remains one of his most universally acknowledged legacies. Capturing a wide audience with the beautiful patterns of refracting light, the kaleidoscope reached far beyond the scientific circles of the 19th century to become a source of pleasure for wealthy patrons in the years after its invention, and a source of inspiration for designers to the present day.

Auktionsarchiv: Los-Nr. 4
Auktion:
Datum:
25.09.2019
Auktionshaus:
Bonhams London
London, Knightsbridge Montpelier Street Knightsbridge London SW7 1HH Tel: +44 20 7393 3900 Fax : +44 20 7393 3905 info@bonhams.com
Beschreibung:

A Dr Brewster's Patent Kaleidoscope, English, mid 19th century, engraved with royal coat of arms and signed DR BREWSTER'S PATENT NO.8, probably made by R. B. Bate, the conical brass body tube with revolving frosted glass objective, supported in a collar above brass column and folding tripod base, tube 5½in (14cm) long Fußnoten Sir David Brewster (1781- 1868) was a scientist and inventor working in Britain during the 19th century whose studies of physical optics led him to invent several noteworthy scientific instruments, including the kaleidoscope. Born in Roxburghshire in 1781, Brewster began studying Theology at the University of Edinburgh at the age of 12. Despite completing his university education and becoming a minister of the Church of Scotland when he was just nineteen years old, Brewster soon left his career in the Church to pursue his passion for science. From as early as 1799, Brewster was studying the diffraction of light and from 1801 he devoted himself to the study of optics. He was at the forefront of 19th century scientific innovation, making ground-breaking discoveries relating to the polarization of light, the optical properties found in crystals, the optical laws of metallic reflection and light absorption, and the fields of photoelasticity, and optical minerology. Brewster was elected to the Royal Society of London in 1815 and invented the kaleidoscope the following year. Built on the long-established but basic understanding of reflective symmetry, the Kaleidoscope was the culmination of Brewster's exploration into optics. The name 'Kaleidoscope' itself is derived from the Ancient Greek words for beautiful (Kalos), form or shape (eidos), and 'to examine' (skopeō); an appropriate name for an object which allows for the examination of beautiful forms. Brewster's Kaleidoscope was patented in 1817. However, before the patent was granted the design for the kaleidoscope had been reproduced, resulting in hundreds of thousands being sold without Brewster receiving renumeration. In addition to the kaleidoscope, Brewster's understanding of physical optics led him to create the lenticular stereoscope, the binocular camera, the polyzonal lens, two polarimeters and an optical system for lighthouses which led to the improvement of lighthouse beams across the country. Throughout his prolific career Brewster wrote 315 papers for scientific societies and various Scientific reviews. He was editor for the Edinburgh Magazine and The Edinburgh Encyclopaedia, contributed significantly to the seventh and eight editions of The Encyclopaedia Britannica and in 1819 he co-founded the Edinburgh Philosophical Journal. Additionally, Brewster was a key influence in the founding of the British Association for the Advancement of Science in 1831. His significant contribution to the scientific community was recognised later that year when he received a knighthood and became a member of the Royal Guelphic Order. Brewster was Principal of the United Colleges of St. Salvator and St. Leonard in St. Andrews from 1837 and in 1859 he became Principal of the University of Edinburgh, a position he held until his death in 1868. Amongst Brewster's many inventions and contributions to scientific understanding, the Kaleidoscope remains one of his most universally acknowledged legacies. Capturing a wide audience with the beautiful patterns of refracting light, the kaleidoscope reached far beyond the scientific circles of the 19th century to become a source of pleasure for wealthy patrons in the years after its invention, and a source of inspiration for designers to the present day.

Auktionsarchiv: Los-Nr. 4
Auktion:
Datum:
25.09.2019
Auktionshaus:
Bonhams London
London, Knightsbridge Montpelier Street Knightsbridge London SW7 1HH Tel: +44 20 7393 3900 Fax : +44 20 7393 3905 info@bonhams.com
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