Withering-type botanical microscope, 1780
The “Withering-type Microscope” is named for its inventor, Dr. William Withering (1741-1799), an English physician and botanist who graduated with a degree in medicine 1766 in Edinburgh. Inspired by the taxonomical work and systematic classification of Carl Linnæus (1707-1778), Withering (1776) applied the Linnaean taxonomical system of classification to British plants in a seminal, two volume work, A Botanical arrangement of all the vegetables naturally growing in the British Isles. The earliest reference to a small botanical microscope of Withering’s design appeared in the first edition of this book. There, Withering indicated this microscope was developed for field dissections of flowers and other plant parts. While there is no surviving example of this exact design, close relatives of this type do exist, made either completely of brass or of ivory with brass pillars. Ivory models can be tentatively dated to 1776-1785, as by 1787 a newer model with a hollowed stage in an all-brass configuration already predominated. In turn, it was preceded by the brief appearance of a transitional brass model but with solid stage of ivory or horn (seen here). This version is extremely rare and must have been produced in very small numbers. By 1787 all these varieties were not recorded anymore in the literature.
Withering-type botanical microscope, 1780
The “Withering-type Microscope” is named for its inventor, Dr. William Withering (1741-1799), an English physician and botanist who graduated with a degree in medicine 1766 in Edinburgh. Inspired by the taxonomical work and systematic classification of Carl Linnæus (1707-1778), Withering (1776) applied the Linnaean taxonomical system of classification to British plants in a seminal, two volume work, A Botanical arrangement of all the vegetables naturally growing in the British Isles. The earliest reference to a small botanical microscope of Withering’s design appeared in the first edition of this book. There, Withering indicated this microscope was developed for field dissections of flowers and other plant parts. While there is no surviving example of this exact design, close relatives of this type do exist, made either completely of brass or of ivory with brass pillars. Ivory models can be tentatively dated to 1776-1785, as by 1787 a newer model with a hollowed stage in an all-brass configuration already predominated. In turn, it was preceded by the brief appearance of a transitional brass model but with solid stage of ivory or horn (seen here). This version is extremely rare and must have been produced in very small numbers. By 1787 all these varieties were not recorded anymore in the literature.
References: SML: A242712; Goren 2014.
References: SML: A242712; Goren 2014.
Prof. Yuval Goren's Collection of the History of the Microscope
Nachet of Paris, Grand Modèle Perfectionné, 1887-95
This is a good and interesting example of the large size microscope model by Nachet of Paris, signed on the base NACHET, 17 rue St Séverin, Paris. Thus it can be dated from 1887-95. The grand modèle was Nachet's best and most massively designed microscope, having a very large double pillar body with the unique base, which was designed personally by Camille Sebastien Nachet. As with other Nachet microscopes, the stand is generally very well made as opposed to some other French makers of the later part of the century. Nachet's large microscope was undoubtedly the best French-made microscope of the 19th century.
A History of the Nachet Firm
Camille Sebastien Nachet (1799 – 1881) was a Parisian optician at the beginning of the 19th Century. After an early career in the French military, in 1834 he began producing lenses for the famous microscope manufacturer, Dr. Charles Chevalier. After 6 years, in 1840, he set up his own small business at the address of Rue Serpente 16, Paris under the name, “Maison Nachet & Fils.” At first, he began selling achromatic lenses for microscopes to different manufacturers both in France and abroad. Then, he began producing his own microscopes based on the drum-type base models made previously by other manufacturers in England and France. By the late 1850s, Nachet was included with Chevalier and Oberhauser as the three leading microscope makers in Paris.
At the Great London Exhibition in 1851 both Chevalier and Nachet presented examples of their instruments. On final evaluation and judgment it was announced that although Nachet's objectives were deemed to be inferior to those of the leading English makers, his instruments were very well designed and manufactured and his lenses better than those presented by other European makers. He was thus awarded a gold medal. On the other hand, Doctor Chevalier (his former employer) had to be satisfied with an honorable mention.
In 1862, Camille Nachet moved his optical workshop to 17 Rue St. Severin, Paris. By the year 1880, Camille Nachet was ailing and so he was succeeded by his son, Jean Alfred (1831-1908). At that time the name of the firm was changed from Nachet et Fils to A. Nachet and instruments were signed simply “Nachet.” Camille Nachet died in the year 1881. In the year 1890, the name of the firm was changed back to Nachet et Fils once more. By the year 1898, Nachet had taken over the other Paris optical firms of Hartnack et Prazmowski and also Besu, Hausser et cie to become THE principal microscope manufacturer in Paris. The firm continued to operate well into the 20th Century.
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References: Harvard 1862: 14; Nuttall 1979: 55; Golub: No. 136 (earlier version); Boerhaave: V07198, V07199; Jeroen Meeusen; Wissner.