Optical Instrument
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See also : Inventions Sciences 1600-1800 Movies
Chronology : 1923
See also : Inventions Sciences 1600-1800 Movies
Chronology : 1923
1750 Cabinet de Curiosités de la Couronne
1
Microscope of the Duc de Chaulnes
1999 SOLD for £ 1M by Christie's
n 1750 the Cabinet de Curiosités de la Couronne is installed in a pavilion in the garden of La Muette, near Passy, where the castle has just been rebuilt on request from King Louis XV. It is specially focusing on optics.
Some scientific instruments are commissioned to the clockmaker Claude-Siméon Passemant, also author in 1754 of an astronomical clock which set the official time of the kingdom.
The duc de Chaulnes is altogether astronomer, physicist and engineer. One of his most spectacular contributions to knowledge is the simulation of lightning.
He also had the idea of combining the microscope and the micrometer, invented separately before him. This invention was fruitful because it immediately enabled to measure the small objects admired by Van Leeuwenhoek.
A small series of microscopes from the design of the duc de Chaulnes was made circa 1750. Some copies have survived.
The optical microscope and the mechanism are attributed to Passemant. The micrometer was made by André Maingaut. The scientific quality was at that time not inconsistent with luxury: its gilt bronzes may be attributed to Caffieri.
Some instruments have their tube wrapped in fishskin. One of them was sold for £ 1M by Christie's on July 8, 1999, lot 184.
Some scientific instruments are commissioned to the clockmaker Claude-Siméon Passemant, also author in 1754 of an astronomical clock which set the official time of the kingdom.
The duc de Chaulnes is altogether astronomer, physicist and engineer. One of his most spectacular contributions to knowledge is the simulation of lightning.
He also had the idea of combining the microscope and the micrometer, invented separately before him. This invention was fruitful because it immediately enabled to measure the small objects admired by Van Leeuwenhoek.
A small series of microscopes from the design of the duc de Chaulnes was made circa 1750. Some copies have survived.
The optical microscope and the mechanism are attributed to Passemant. The micrometer was made by André Maingaut. The scientific quality was at that time not inconsistent with luxury: its gilt bronzes may be attributed to Caffieri.
Some instruments have their tube wrapped in fishskin. One of them was sold for £ 1M by Christie's on July 8, 1999, lot 184.
2
Microscope of the Duc de Chaulnes
2008 SOLD for € 900K by Sotheby's
A microscope of the duc de Chaulnes with a shagreen wrapped tube was sold for € 900K by Sotheby's on October 22, 2008, lot 65.
Another one with no shagreen was sold for € 620K from a lower estimate of € 200K by Piasa on June 19, 2013.
Another one with no shagreen was sold for € 620K from a lower estimate of € 200K by Piasa on June 19, 2013.
3
Culpeper Microscope
2021 SOLD for € 1.02M by Christie's
A microscope attributed to Passemant was sold for € 1.02M from a lower estimate of € 300K by Christie's on November 23, 2021, lot 208. This instrument 55 cm high is made of gilt bronze, steel, mahogany and shagreen. The bronzes are attributed to Caffieri.
It is a highly rare deluxe French example of a microscope in the Culpeper tripod type, developed in England ca 1725.
It is a highly rare deluxe French example of a microscope in the Culpeper tripod type, developed in England ca 1725.
1912 Chronomégaphone Gaumont
2015 SOLD for € 1.24M by Rouillac
French inventors were passionate about the transformation of photography into a full size show. This black and white image will give birth by phases to the sound cinema in colors by projection.
Lumière in Lyon and Gaumont in Paris are industrialists of the photography. This market is growing significantly since the release in the United States in 1888 of the film camera, obsoleting the glass plates: the Kodak. Edison, also in the United States, is able since 1891 to produce motion pictures with perforated film.
For shooting his movies, Léon Gaumont operates the Chronophotographe of Demeny who himself had been the assistant of Marey, the physiologist who studied the movements by taking successive views onto a single plate. From 1911 in Paris, the Gaumont Palace welcomes 3200 spectators.
The first movies are short sequences. The projections are often accompanied by a musician or a singer. In 1907 Gaumont publishes a catalog of "phonoscènes" which are a kit including separately the film for the projection and the record disc for the phonograph. The first titles are songs from the music hall and the opera.
Gaumont attempts the synchronization of picture and sound both in recording and performing. His Chronomégaphone requires two operators connected by telephone to identify the time drifts between image and sound that are offset by a monitoring equipment named the chef d'orchestre.
One of these devices was purchased in 1912 by a young man who was planning to make a fortune in Mexico with his demonstrations of sound cinema.
After a promising start, the experience is interrupted. The low number of available sequences did not allow to maintain a permanent theater and the installation in a tour, which was tempted, was too difficult. The hardware, films, records and even the posters came back to France in 1913 in their four huge original Gaumont containers.
This Chronomégaphone is now surfacing like a time capsule. It was sold for € 1.24M by Rouillac on June 7, 2015, lot 35. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Lumière in Lyon and Gaumont in Paris are industrialists of the photography. This market is growing significantly since the release in the United States in 1888 of the film camera, obsoleting the glass plates: the Kodak. Edison, also in the United States, is able since 1891 to produce motion pictures with perforated film.
For shooting his movies, Léon Gaumont operates the Chronophotographe of Demeny who himself had been the assistant of Marey, the physiologist who studied the movements by taking successive views onto a single plate. From 1911 in Paris, the Gaumont Palace welcomes 3200 spectators.
The first movies are short sequences. The projections are often accompanied by a musician or a singer. In 1907 Gaumont publishes a catalog of "phonoscènes" which are a kit including separately the film for the projection and the record disc for the phonograph. The first titles are songs from the music hall and the opera.
Gaumont attempts the synchronization of picture and sound both in recording and performing. His Chronomégaphone requires two operators connected by telephone to identify the time drifts between image and sound that are offset by a monitoring equipment named the chef d'orchestre.
One of these devices was purchased in 1912 by a young man who was planning to make a fortune in Mexico with his demonstrations of sound cinema.
After a promising start, the experience is interrupted. The low number of available sequences did not allow to maintain a permanent theater and the installation in a tour, which was tempted, was too difficult. The hardware, films, records and even the posters came back to France in 1913 in their four huge original Gaumont containers.
This Chronomégaphone is now surfacing like a time capsule. It was sold for € 1.24M by Rouillac on June 7, 2015, lot 35. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
LE CHRONOMÉGAPHONE GAUMONT from ROUILLAC on Vimeo.
1923 Leica Null-Series
Intro
The Leica has propelled photography into the modern world. The idea was to provide a compact and handy camera using the 35 mm motion picture film.
In 1911 Oskar (Oscar) Barnack was hired by Leitz. Founded in the mid-19th century, the Optische Werke Ernst Leitz company established in Wetzlar specialized in precision mechanics for optical instruments.
In the development phase of the cinema, setting the exposure time was an issue. To test it Barnack has the idea in 1913 to insert a 35 mm flexible film horizontally in a still camera. He builds two prototypes of this Leca that will later be spelled Leica for Leitz Camera. The horizontal position makes it possible to use 8 perforations per frame instead of 4 for the vertical rolling in a movie camera. The 24 x 36 mm was born.
Until then the usual practice for positive photography had been the contact printing. Barnack loves hiking but he is sick and must avoid heavy equipment. He considers reusing his miniature 24 x 36 mm format. The positives will be achieved by enlargement. He makes a third prototype between 1918 and 1920.
Barnack convinces his boss Ernst Leitz II to continue this innovative experience. To evaluate the feasibility of a production and to test the market, Leitz authorizes in 1923 a small series of 31 cameras numbered from 100 to 130, the 0-Series (in German : Nullserie) of the Leica. It seems that some of these numbers were not finally used for an estimated total of 22 units. A dozen are surviving.
The 0-Series Leica has some improvements compared to its three precursors, including to allow loading and unloading the film in daylight. The lens cover is now essential for not fogging the film when arming.
Thus was born the 24 x 36 mm picture size, which was the most universally used before the digital image. Two years later, the Leica A opened the road of success to these "Leitz cameras".
Excellent lenses and robust mechanics enabled the photographers, amateurs and professionals, to easily realize quality images.
In 1911 Oskar (Oscar) Barnack was hired by Leitz. Founded in the mid-19th century, the Optische Werke Ernst Leitz company established in Wetzlar specialized in precision mechanics for optical instruments.
In the development phase of the cinema, setting the exposure time was an issue. To test it Barnack has the idea in 1913 to insert a 35 mm flexible film horizontally in a still camera. He builds two prototypes of this Leca that will later be spelled Leica for Leitz Camera. The horizontal position makes it possible to use 8 perforations per frame instead of 4 for the vertical rolling in a movie camera. The 24 x 36 mm was born.
Until then the usual practice for positive photography had been the contact printing. Barnack loves hiking but he is sick and must avoid heavy equipment. He considers reusing his miniature 24 x 36 mm format. The positives will be achieved by enlargement. He makes a third prototype between 1918 and 1920.
Barnack convinces his boss Ernst Leitz II to continue this innovative experience. To evaluate the feasibility of a production and to test the market, Leitz authorizes in 1923 a small series of 31 cameras numbered from 100 to 130, the 0-Series (in German : Nullserie) of the Leica. It seems that some of these numbers were not finally used for an estimated total of 22 units. A dozen are surviving.
The 0-Series Leica has some improvements compared to its three precursors, including to allow loading and unloading the film in daylight. The lens cover is now essential for not fogging the film when arming.
Thus was born the 24 x 36 mm picture size, which was the most universally used before the digital image. Two years later, the Leica A opened the road of success to these "Leitz cameras".
Excellent lenses and robust mechanics enabled the photographers, amateurs and professionals, to easily realize quality images.
1
No. 105
2022 SOLD for € 14.4M by Leitz Photographica
The No. 105 was the personal camera of Oskar Barnack who used it extensively until he switched to a Leica I-C with interchangeable lenses in 1930. It remained in his family until 1960. Some elements have been changed by its early users.
# 105 was sold for € 14.4M from a lower estimate of € 2M for sale on June 5, 2022 by WestLicht renamed Leitz Photographica, lot 5. Documents and letters are joined to that lot that also includes a Nettel camera that Barnack heavily modified for his photographic research and development.
# 105 was sold for € 14.4M from a lower estimate of € 2M for sale on June 5, 2022 by WestLicht renamed Leitz Photographica, lot 5. Documents and letters are joined to that lot that also includes a Nettel camera that Barnack heavily modified for his photographic research and development.
.@leica_camera-Prototyp bricht Weltrekord#leica https://t.co/YggLHzDmbF
— Monopol-Magazin (@MonopolMagazin) June 11, 2022
NEW WORLD RECORD! #Leica 0-series no.105 sold for:
— Leica Camera AG (@leica_camera) June 11, 2022
14,400,000 EUR (including buyers premium)
at the 40th #LeitzPhotographicaAuction
The 105 has thus broken the world record for the most expensive camera of all times! pic.twitter.com/3lTDQGUnpr
2
No. 122
2018 SOLD for € 2.4M by WestLicht
In B+ condition the Leica 122 is one of the best preserved of the series. Its lens cover, folding viewfinder and paintwork are original.
It was sold for € 2.4M from a lower estimate of € 700K by WestLicht on March 10, 2018, lot 3 here linked to the LiveAuctioneers bidding platform.
It was sold for € 2.4M from a lower estimate of € 700K by WestLicht on March 10, 2018, lot 3 here linked to the LiveAuctioneers bidding platform.
2.9 million! The Leica 0-series camera of 1923 sold by Westlicht (@WestLichtVienna) for a record $2,952,670 https://t.co/4T3CGKW40C #antiques #antique #auction #camera #photo #photography #Leica #art #record pic.twitter.com/Sa6piIVrpY
— Maine Antique Digest (@AntiqueDigest) May 31, 2018
3
No. 116
2012 SOLD for € 2.16M by WestLicht
The serial number 116 graded B- was sold for € 2.16M on May 12, 2012 by Westlicht from a lower estimate of € 600K.
4
No. 107
2011 SOLD for € 1.32M by WestLicht
The Leica 107 in B- condition was sold for € 1.32M by WestLicht on May 28, 2011 from a lower estimate of € 350K. The image is shared by Reportages Photos.
1930 Leica Luxus
2012 SOLD for HK$ 7.5M by Bonhams
Leica completely dominates the market for cameras in the twentieth century like Colt had done for firearms in the previous century. Both brands also have a common practice : the production of some units for prestige, functional without being intended for use, made to be presented to personalities.
The Luxus is the gold-plated version of the Leica, released in the catalog of the brand in 1929. Within two years, 95 copies of Leica I Luxus were produced. One of them dated ca 1930 was sold for HK $ 7.5M by Bonhams on November 23, 2012, lot 2104.
Another one, made in 1930, was sold for HK $ 4.8M by Bonhams on November 22, 2013, lot 1682. Another one of the same year but adapted as Leica Ic was sold for € 420K before fees by WestLicht on November 23, 2013, lot 29 here linked on the bidding platform LiveAuctioneers.
With the Leica II, the Luxus version becomes exceptional. Only six cameras were made including two with prestigious serial numbers, 75.000 and 100.000, which were offered to explorers. One of the four others, made in 1932, was sold for HK $ 4.8M by Bonhams on November 22, 2013, lot 1681.
The tradition of using significant numbers in presentation pieces was revived much later. Numbers 500.000 in 1951 and 1.000.000 in 1960 had been offered to members of the Leitz family. They were listed on November 23, 2013 by WestLicht. The former, a Leica IIIf, was sold for € 300K before fees, lot 282. The latter, a M3 Chrome, was sold for € 840K from a lower estimate of € 400K, lot 284. Both links go to the bidding platform LiveAuctioneers.
The Luxus is the gold-plated version of the Leica, released in the catalog of the brand in 1929. Within two years, 95 copies of Leica I Luxus were produced. One of them dated ca 1930 was sold for HK $ 7.5M by Bonhams on November 23, 2012, lot 2104.
Another one, made in 1930, was sold for HK $ 4.8M by Bonhams on November 22, 2013, lot 1682. Another one of the same year but adapted as Leica Ic was sold for € 420K before fees by WestLicht on November 23, 2013, lot 29 here linked on the bidding platform LiveAuctioneers.
With the Leica II, the Luxus version becomes exceptional. Only six cameras were made including two with prestigious serial numbers, 75.000 and 100.000, which were offered to explorers. One of the four others, made in 1932, was sold for HK $ 4.8M by Bonhams on November 22, 2013, lot 1681.
The tradition of using significant numbers in presentation pieces was revived much later. Numbers 500.000 in 1951 and 1.000.000 in 1960 had been offered to members of the Leitz family. They were listed on November 23, 2013 by WestLicht. The former, a Leica IIIf, was sold for € 300K before fees, lot 282. The latter, a M3 Chrome, was sold for € 840K from a lower estimate of € 400K, lot 284. Both links go to the bidding platform LiveAuctioneers.
1957 Leica MP
2021 SOLD for € 1.2M by Leitz Photographica
Released at the Photokina in 1956, the Leica MP is the model that started the craze for black paint M cameras. The overall production was limited to 412 units, including 141 in the black paint version. Many Magnum photographers used that model.
The Leica MP black paint No. 55 made in 1957 was sold for € 1.2M from a lower estimate of € 300K by Leitz Photographica on November 20, 2021, lot 79.
It is graded in condition A- with only minimal signs of use and is accompanied by its matching Leicavit MP rapid winder.
The Leica MP black paint No. 55 made in 1957 was sold for € 1.2M from a lower estimate of € 300K by Leitz Photographica on November 20, 2021, lot 79.
It is graded in condition A- with only minimal signs of use and is accompanied by its matching Leicavit MP rapid winder.
