TitleCulpeper microscope with mahogany boxDatec 1760-1799About this objectThis compound microscope is designed in the style pioneered by the English instrument maker Edmund Culpeper (1670-1737/8). The mahogany case features a brass carrying ring on the top and opens at the front with a lock, although the key is now missing. The microscope stands on a wooden base fitted with a drawer containing accessories such as slides, brass lenses with numbers, brass tweezers, and an ivory container with lid.
While compound microscope was invented in the late 16th century in Netherlands, Culpeper made significant improvements to its design and accessibility in the early 18th century. His design addressed issues of poor alignment, insufficient light and image distortion, while reducing manufacturing cost.
This object represents a typical Culpeper design, with three curved pillars supporting a central body tube that slides up and down for focusing. They sit on a lower tier supported by three additional curved pillars, providing better stability. Most notably, the addition of a concave mirror beneath the stage allowed light to be directed upward through the specimen, eliminating the need to hold the instrument towards a light source.
The Culpeper design soon became popular and was widely copied by leading instrument makers in the 18th century. Over time, the materials used in constructing the device evolved from leather, wood and brass to predominantly all brass by around 1800.
The self-contained wooden case and storage drawer reflect the microscope’s potential for use outside of laboratories. It was not uncommon in the 18th century for naturalists to carry portable microscopes on expeditions and use them to study marine and botanical specimens while ashore. Object No.88.61:1-20Place madeEnglandSourceLa Perouse MuseumCredit lineGift of Kronenbourg S.A. for the opening of the museum, 1988On displayNoTypeMuseum objectsOrganisations (Detailed entries)La Perouse Museum (La Perouse, N.S.W.)ThemesEuropean arrivalsScience and communication
