Camera Lúcida in Good and Working Condition. France, XIX Century. In Original Case

This singular device is a camera lucida made of chrome-plated metal in the 19th century. It is a very curious and interesting article, complete and in excellent condition and working order. The instrument comes in its original case, with black faux leather covering outside and a lovely moiré satin lining inside the lid. The satin bears an inscription in golden lettering: L. BERVILLE CHAUSEÉ DANTIN Nº 25, printed inside a logo in the shape of a painters palette. The camera lucida is a device invented and patented by William Hyde Wollaston in 1806. It is used to help artists to reproduce images using optical media. The instrument must be attached to a table with a clamp located at one of its ends. The other end holds the corresponding magnification lens. The device reproduces the image of the item to be reproduced on the artists paper, canvas or wood plank, so he or she can transfer a series of reference points in order to get the right perspective. The name camera lucida is Latin and means light room. This particular piece is in perfect condition. It comes with a complete set of magnification lenses in their corresponding compartments. On one side of the clamp that attaches the device to the table we can see a clear engraved inscription: P. BERVILLE DÉPOSITAIRE, and there is another inscription also engraved in the clamp: CHAMBRE CLAIRE UNIVERSEILLE TH. BENOIST. This camera lucida comes with an original vintage advertisement that explains how the camera lucida must be used with a simple and graphic drawing. It is an advertisement of the model we can see in the photograph, published by the same distributor: P. Berville from Paris. As attractive as functional, this vintage camera lucida is still a valuable helper for any artists and also a quite interesting piece for any collector of curious antiques.