Spyglass or Telescope
Period1775-1800
Place MadeSt. Catherine's, London, England
MediumBrass, glass lenses, cherry wood
Dimensions37.75 in. L × 1.63 in. Diameter (95.9 × 4.1 cm)
Eyepiece: 1 in. Diameter × 9.75 in. L (2.5 × 24.8 cm)
Eyepiece: 1 in. Diameter × 9.75 in. L (2.5 × 24.8 cm)
SignedEngraved on side of brass eyepiece "Made by JAs CHAPMAN St Catherine's London"
ClassificationsOccupational Equipment
Credit LineGift of Mrs. D. H. Applegate
Object number2002.501
DescriptionSpyglass or telescope, with octagonal cherrywood shaft. Tapers slightly toward eyepiece. Brass eyepiece section slides into brass ferrule fitted to top of wood shaft; ferrule fastened to shaft with small brass nails. Eyepiece slides completely free of shaft. At either end of eyepiece, small brass collars unscrew to allow access/removal/replacement of hand-ground colorless glass convex lenses, which appear to be original to spyglass. Wood shaft end capped with brass ferrule and lens, not removable, with small sliding brass plate, which, when closed, protects lens glass. Originally, eyepiece protected by similar plate, now missing.NotesOriginal donor information records "3 telescopes from Applegate family - 1 brass & wood, 1 brass, leather bound; 1 all metal." The brass and wood telescope closely resembles the spyglass depicted in the portrait of Fenwick Lyell (dates unknown), a ship captain on merchant vessels, who was lost at sea some time prior to 1794. Lyell's son, Fenwick Lyell II, was a well known Monmouth County cabinetmaker. The Applegate family spyglass was made by James Chapman. Chapman, whose workshop was located in the crowded and bustling St. Catherine's Docks along the Thames River in London, appears to have specialized in optical and nautical instruments. A number of telescopes or spyglasses survive, bearing the inscription "Jas Chapman St. Catherine's London," as well as at least one octant (a nautical measuring device similar to a sextant). Chapman was active from about 1774 to at least 1794.
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