Early Twentieth Century Three Way Combination with Bullesye Lenses

Ships bow lantern from a yacht. Marine lantern with three lenses, clear, port, and starboard. This is a rare piece from the early twentieth century. Vented top and carry ring. With o...

Ships Binnacle compass with teak base, brass hood, compass, clinometer, and chart tube. Compass is engraved U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships, the Lionel Corporation, 1941. 53x33x19 H-L-Deep

It has a cover to protect the lens made of the same gold metal in which the rest of the instrument is made. The lines, pure and clean, are the protagonists, and make it a great opti...

What is an ophthalmotrope? An ophthalmotrope is an apparatus for demonstrating the movements of the eye and the action of the different muscles which produce them, consisting essentially of a model eyeball to which are attached strings and pulleys to duplicate the line force of the muscles. We think this example is most likely French from the early 20th century. The base is marble with paw feet. It’s also quite large at well over 3 foot tall. This instrument is very complete. It also includes additional parts to set the mechanics up in a different way. In the pictures above the strings are attached to a keyboard. The alternative replaces the keyboard with string guide with a dozen hanging tubular weights. This is one of the largest and most decorative examples we have seen. I have only seen pictures of ophthalmotropes and never one this fine and complete. It’s as rare and impressive show piece. This item was also used in the movie Knives Out,