Museum microscope by Thomas Winter of 9 New Bond Street, London, England, c. 1810

Possibly invented as a special commission, Thomas Winter's "museum microscope" demonstrates academic and scientific interest within upper-class wealth and culture.

Functionality is combined with elegance of design, with interesting specimens set into a rotating ivory mount. The microscope is therefore a "museum" of specimens, with a collection that can be easily viewed again and again.

Mahogany case for museum microscope by T. Winter of 9 New Bond Street, with lock and key, and with internal drawer containing simple microscope body (not a correct fit), live box (one glass face concave, one plane), ivory disc (blackened one side), concave lens, glass disc, brush, ivory container with mica slide cover discs (talcs) in one end and retaining springs for them in the other, and list of specimens.

Mahogany case for museum microscope by T. Winter of 9 New Bond Street, with lock and key, and with internal drawer containing simple microscope body (not a correct fit), live box (one glass face concave, one plane), ivory disc (blackened one side), concave lens, glass disc, brush, ivory container with mica slide cover discs (talcs) in one end and retaining springs for them in the other, and list of specimens.

Wooden piece part of mahogany case for museum microscope by T. Winter