France Archives - Page 44 of 51

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ELABORATE ELECTRO-MEDICAL SET, French, c. 1900, signed on the box “Electricite, Madame Taberlet, Paris,” on the galvanometer face “Charles Chardin, Paris,” and numbered “B127.” The 11″ x 6-1/4″ x 3-3/8″ (28 x 16 x 9 cm) fine wood box opens out to reveal three batteries behind glazed windows, 11 connecting posts (labeled “+,” and 1 to 10), a magnetic compass galvanometer with conversion table between degrees and milliamperes, and fitted compartments for the connecting wires, hand grips, conducting roller Read More...

02 Aug

THE CHROMORADIOMETRE OF DR. H. BORDIER

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THE CHROMORADIOMETRE OF DR. H. BORDIER, French, c. 1910, contained in the original 6-5/8″ x 5-1/8″ (17 x 13 cm) fitted case lined in red silk and red velvet. The device was made by “Maison S. Maury, 7 Quai Claude-Bernard, Lyon,” and consists of a printed card in a glazed gilt metal frame with suspension chain. Six colored paper windows are pasted along a central slot in the card, and a considerable supply of small comparison test disks are Read More...

02 Aug

THE SCOTOMETER OF ANTONELLI

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THE SCOTOMETER OF ANTONELLI, French, c. 1900, in its original 4-3/4″ x 3-1/2″ x1-1/4″ wood case covered in black fabric. The blackened brass instrument, with wood handle, measures 8-1/4″ (21 cm) overall. It features a sighting hole with leaf diaphragm adjustable against a 1(1)15 mm scale, a large rotating wheel of eight colored glass filters (for use by daylight), and a superimposed wheel of eight opaque colored targets (for use by artificial light). In very fine functional condition throughout, Read More...

21 Jul

DIMINUTIVE AMPUTATION SAW BY THE BEST

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SMALL AMPUTATION SAW BY THE BEST, French, last quarter 18th century, signed “Grangeret, Paris” and with the maker’s “crowned-H” stamp. Measuring only 11-1/2″ (29 cm) overall, the saw is finely shaped of polished steel, set with a 5″ (13 cm) long blade, a “butterfly” blade-tightening nut, and a fine eight-sided pistol grip handle of ebony. Condition is very fine with traces of old stains. The maker was Pierre Grangeret (c. 1731 – 1802), master cutler, recipient of the “crowned-H” Read More...

18 Jul

THE CONVERGENT GRASPING-HOOK OF CHASSAIGNAC

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THE CONVERGENT GRASPING-HOOK OF CHASSAIGNAC, French, c. 1875, made with polished steel fingers, “maillechort” metal guidetube and ferrule, and shaped ebony handle, with overall length of 11-1/8″ (28.5 cm). It has internal snares, opened and closed by sliding its outer guide tube. Condition is fine and functional throughout, noting a hairline crack in the handle. Charles Marie Edouard Chassaignac (1805 – 1879) was surgeon in Paris; various instruments (notably his “ecraseur”), surgical operations, and anatomical parts bear his name. Read More...

18 Jul

DRAMATIC OPTOMETRIST’S SIGN

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DRAMATIC OPTOMETRIST’S SIGN, French, c. early 20th c., the red grain-painted wood frame measuring 10-3/4″ x 14-3/4″ (27 x 37 cm), the glass panel backed with reflective material and reverse-painted or -printed in color, showing fitted eyeglasses, a cross-section of the eye, and the message “Execution Rapide des Ordonnances de M’rs. les Oculistes”. It is signed in the corner, for the patented process “Luicolor B’te. S.G.D.G., 339 rue des Pyrenees, Paris.” To the reverse is a hinged card support, Read More...

15 Jul

UNCOMMON DENTAL SET

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UNCOMMON DENTAL SET, French, c. 1875, signed in the case “H. Galante a Paris” and “Galante, Instruments de Chirurgie, 2 rue de l’Ecole de Medecine, Paris,” and on the major instruments (toothkey and two forceps) “Galante.” This fine set comprises eleven tools, plus a small turned ebony box and an auxiliary tooth key claw of larger size. The eight-sided tapered wood handles are ebony; the lovely tooth key handle is turned horn. The full set is contained in its Read More...

09 Jul

MINIATURE HELIOCHRONOMETER

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MINIATURE HELIOCHRONOMETER, probably French for the English market, second half 19th century, signed “J. Somalvico & Co., 2 Hatton Garden, London.” Finely made of silvered, chemically darkened, and bright lacquered brass, this precision sundial has a round base with three leveling screws, crossed spirit levels, glazed compass with paper rose (in English), edge bar needle and needle lifter, tiltable and clampable dial support (for setting the latitude), and 3″ (8 cm) diameter domed chapter ring plate divided every five Read More...

09 Jul

A REVOLUTIONARY SUNDIAL

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A REVOLUTIONARY SUNDIAL, French, 18th century, unsigned, of the “Butterfield” type. The eight-sided brass dial measures 2-1/2″ x 3″ (6 x 8 cm), with folding gnomon adjustable from 40° to 60° North latitude against bird-form support, and inset glazed compass. The upper surface is engraved with four chapter rings for different latitudes, and most distinctive cross-hatched decoration. The underside has a gazetteer of 17 cities and their latitudes, the spring plate also with cross-hatching. The gnomon carries unusual leafy Read More...

08 Jul

MAGNETIC AZIMUTH SUNDIAL

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MAGNETIC AZIMUTH SUNDIAL, French, late 19th century, signed “J. Decoudun.” The 1-1/8″ (3 cm) diameter glazed case is made of plated brass and mounted with pendant ring. It contains a fixed brass arc with compass directionals, and a floating compass card printed with hours from 6am to 6pm and set with stone pivot. Condition is very fine noting some darkening to the silvered arc. In use one aligns the case with the sun, and reads the time from the calibrations Read More...

05 Jul

CHARRIERE RHINOSCOPE

By M and R Gordon

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A Charriere Rhinoscope with ebony handle, that was used for examining the naso-pharynx. It combines a tongue depressor ,uvula holder and mirror. Length as shown in second image: 29cm. A review of all available Charriere catalogs, Gaujot and Spillman (1872) and other relevant sources failed to yield an image or discussion of this instrument, leading us to conclude that it may have been a prototype or a special order. Read More...

30 Jun

FRENCH SUNDIAL / THEODOLITE

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FRENCH SUNDIAL / THEODOLITE, 1816, signed “fait par Rivaud ingenieur le 20 mai 1816″ (made by Rivaud, engineer, May 20, 1816). Made of walnut, 6-3/8″ (16 cm) square and 1” thick overall, this multipurpose instrument has hinged lid with string gnomon and plumb line; horizontal chapter ring divided every quarter hour from 6am to 6pm; inset glazed compass with 360 scale divided each degree, 16-point rose, doubled needle, and automatic needle lifter; and side-mounted inclinable rectangular walnut tube with Read More...