Microscope 1745 - 1755

This ornate microscope was created by Claude-Siméon Passemant in the 18th century and is housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The instrument is a study in contrasts, juxtaposing smooth, refined surfaces with intricate, textured details. The gilded framework, with its lavish, curvilinear forms, encases the functional elements of the microscope. Note how the cylindrical body, covered in shagreen, a type of treated sharkskin, offers a tactile contrast to the polished metal. This tension between the opulence of the design and the scientific purpose of the instrument creates an interesting dialogue. The meticulous construction and the strategic use of materials—gold, shagreen, glass—reflect a period when science and art were not mutually exclusive domains. The elaborate decoration does not merely serve aesthetic purposes; it elevates the instrument to an object of status and wonder.