Twee natuurkundige instrumenten before 1867

These two physical instruments, listed in an undated catalogue by F.W. Funckler, are demonstrations of electricity and magnetism. The devices are primarily constructed from metal and coils of wire, with the base of one appearing to be made from wood. The catalogue format itself is revealing. These objects were commodities, produced for educational and possibly medical use. They were part of a late industrial world in which scientific principles were not just theoretical, but put into practice. The instruments' polished surfaces and carefully wound coils speak to a society that valued precision and control, qualities that were increasingly important in both the scientific and industrial realms. Consider the labor involved in producing these objects: the mining of the metals, the milling and shaping of the components, and the careful assembly of each piece. The catalogue entry reduces all of this work to a simple price, obscuring the complex social and economic relationships that underpinned their creation. We can appreciate the ingenuity and craftsmanship of these instruments, while also considering their place within a larger system of production and consumption.