An ebonised artists' table top reducing lens, circa. late 19th / early 20th century.
Nineteenth-century artists used reducing lenses, sometimes called 'diminishing glasses', to see a wider scene in miniature, helping them simplify tonal ranges, colour, and composition. These handheld and tabletop lenses, acting as the opposite of a magnifier, allowed painters to check perspective and fit complex landscapes or subjects onto their canvases, acting as an early, analog artistic filter.
This table top example has a wood-mounted lens upon a turned pillar and base. Light signs of wear commensurate with age. Displays well extremely.
Dimensions
Height: 22cm
Diameter of base: 12cm
Delivery
UK Mainland: FREE
International Delivery: Please contact us for a shipping quote.