Description

For sale a scientific optical mirror by Thomas Rubergall of 24 Coventry Street, London.

Comprised of a turned mahogany base with lead weighting added to the underside for stability and covered with its original green baize finish. The upper end of the base is hollowed through the stem to accept the upper brass fitting which holds the mirror. To the side is a brass knurled screw for height adjustment of the mirror when in use.

The upper section of the mirror has a semi-circular arm engraved to the top side with “Thomas Rubergall Optician to Their Majesties, 24 Coventry Street, London”, and has further brass knurled adjustment screws at either end to hold a mahogany frame containing two mirrors held back-to-back within it.

The front mirror provides normal magnification, and the back allows for more powerful magnification (see images). By means of the three adjustment screws, either mirror can be manoeuvred in vertical and horizontal directions. Both mirror plates are in original condition with some pleasing foxing present, but both remain in perfectly working order.

The maker Thomas Rubergall was active from 1802 until 1854 in London and traded from three different addresses throughout those 52 years. Princes St, Soho from 1802 to 1805, 27 Coventry Street from 1805 to 1823 and then thereafter to number 24 Coventry Street. Rubergall seems to have been from Huguenot French descent and may be related to earlier well-known Chelsea market gardeners of the eighteenth century with the same name. He was renowned enough to have been appointed optician to George III and mathematical instrument maker and optician to the Duke of Clarence (later William IV) and to Queen Victoria.

The site of the Rubergall’s shop was situated between Piccadilly and Leicester Square.

A superbly executed instrument from one of the most prominent scientific instrument retailers of the first half of the Nineteenth century. The dating of this instrument can be pinpointed to the period between 1837 & 1861 which relate to the dates between Victoria’s ascension to the throne and the death of Prince Albert. Rubergall traded from the 24 Coventry Street address throughout this period but the reference to Their Majesties is an obvious signpost.

Circa 1850