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Ebonised Artists' Reducing Lens, C.1900
Sold by Harrington Antiques
sold SA1207966
Sorry, but this item has been sold.
Harrington Antiques

Harrington Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Mar 2021
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Ebonised Artists' Reducing Lens, C.1900

1900 - 1920
Sold 18 June 2026 · Harrington Antiques
This “Ebonised Artists' Reducing Lens, C.1900” found a buyer.

It was listed by Harrington Antiques. Sold pieces stay on Sellingantiques as a record of what has passed through, and the next one is rarely far away.

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Description

An ebonised artists' table top reducing lens, circa. late 19th / early 20th century.

Nineteenth-century artists used reducing lenses, sometimes called 'diminishing glasses', to see a wider scene in miniature, helping them simplify tonal ranges, colour, and composition. These handheld and tabletop lenses, acting as the opposite of a magnifier, allowed painters to check perspective and fit complex landscapes or subjects onto their canvases, acting as an early, analog artistic filter.

This table top example has a wood-mounted lens upon a turned pillar and base. Light signs of wear commensurate with age. Displays well extremely.

Dimensions:-

Height: 22cm

Diameter of base: 12cm

DELIVERY

UK Mainland: FREE

International Delivery: Please contact us for a shipping quote.

Date of Manufacture

Harrington Antiques has dated these Ebonised Artists Reducing Lens to the 1900s.

Physical Dimensions
Height
22cm (8.66")
Width
12cm (4.72")
Depth
12cm (4.72")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1207966
Dealers Internal Reference
7986
Dealers Notes

PAYMENT

We accept payment via debit card, credit card, Paypal, bank transfer or cheque. We also offer a 'Pay In 3' payment service through our website.

RETURNS

We are sure that you will be delighted with your purchase. Nonetheless, to ensure you have complete peace of mind, we offer a 14 day money back guarantee.

The purchased item may be returned, in its original condition, within 14 days from receipt. Return carriage costs are the responsibility of the buyer. For larger pieces requiring a specialist courier service, we will arrange your return for you with the cost being deducted from the refund (this cost will never exceed the original charge paid).

We ask that a trackable signature method of shipping is used for the return of smaller items as we cannot be held responsible for items lost in transit.

Should you have any queries at all, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Description
An ebonised artists' table top reducing lens, circa. late 19th / early 20th century.
“
Nineteenth-century artists used reducing lenses, sometimes called 'diminishing glasses', to see a wider scene in miniature, helping them simplify tonal ranges, colour, and composition.
Harrington Antiques

These handheld and tabletop lenses, acting as the opposite of a magnifier, allowed painters to check perspective and fit complex landscapes or subjects onto their canvases, acting as an early, analog artistic filter.

fig 1. An ebonised wooden artists reducing lens stands upright on a circular turned base against a dark background.
fig 1. Ebonised Artists' Reducing Lens, C.1900

This table top example has a wood-mounted lens upon a turned pillar and base. Light signs of wear commensurate with age. Displays well extremely.

Dimensions:-

Height: 22cm

Diameter of base: 12cm

DELIVERY

UK Mainland: FREE

International Delivery: Please contact us for a shipping quote.

Date of Manufacture

Harrington Antiques has dated these Ebonised Artists Reducing Lens to the 1900s.

Height
22cm (8.66")
Width
12cm (4.72")
Depth
12cm (4.72")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1207966
Dealers Internal Ref
7986
Harrington Antiques
Harrington Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Mar 2021

Antiques & decorative interior pieces.

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Harrington Antiques Profile Page

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An ebonised wooden artists reducing lens stands upright on a circular turned base against a dark background. SOLD18 JUN 26
1 / 12
Archive I An ebonised wooden artists reducing lens stands upright on a circular turned base against a dark background. SOLD18 JUN 26

Ebonised Artists' Reducing Lens, C.1900

Archive II An ebonised wooden artists reducing lens stands upright on a circular turned base against a dark background. View II
Archive III An ebonised wooden artists reducing lens stands upright on a circular turned base against a dark background. View III
Archive IV An ebonised wooden artists reducing lens stands upright on a circular turned base against a dark background. View IV
Archive V An ebonised wooden artists reducing lens stands upright on a circular turned base against a dark background. View V
Archive VI An ebonised wooden artists reducing lens stands upright on a circular turned base against a dark background. View VI
Archive VII An ebonised wooden artists reducing lens stands upright on a circular turned base against a dark background. View VII
Archive VIII An ebonised wooden artists reducing lens stands upright on a circular turned base against a dark background. View VIII
Archive IX An ebonised wooden artists reducing lens stands upright on a circular turned base against a dark background. View IX
Archive X An ebonised wooden artists reducing lens stands upright on a circular turned base against a dark background. View X
Archive XI An ebonised wooden artists reducing lens stands upright on a circular turned base against a dark background. View XI
Archive XII An ebonised wooden artists reducing lens stands upright on a circular turned base against a dark background. View XII
Enlarged Archival View
Harrington Antiques

Harrington Antiques
Telephone 07552 767190
Location
Devon
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/harringtonantiques
Verified Since Mar 2021
Items For Sale 65
Items Sold 868
Harrington Antiques
Harrington Antiques
Verified Since Mar 2021
View Dealer Info
Location: Devon, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/harringtonantiques
Verified
Mar 2021
For Sale
65
Sold
868
An ebonised wooden artists reducing lens stands upright on a circular turned base against a dark background.
Ebonised Artists' Reducing Lens, c.1900
Ref: SA1207966
An ebonised wooden artists reducing lens stands upright on a circular turned base against a dark background.
Detail View 1
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Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectDecorative Objects
  • Period1900 - 1920
  • StyleVictorian & Gothic
  • MaterialWood, Glass
  • ColourBlack
  • MotifsTurned wood stem, Circular weighted base, Concave optical glass
  • SizeH 22 cm (9 in) x W 12 cm (5 in) x D 12 cm (5 in)

FAQs

An artists reducing lens is a concave optical instrument traditionally used by painters and draughtsmen to condense a wide landscape or scene onto a smaller visual plane, helping to check composition, tone, and perspective.

These instruments typically feature a concave glass lens housed within a turned wooden frame, most commonly ebonised fruitwood or mahogany, often mounted on a weighted circular base for studio use.

Authentic period pieces usually exhibit hand-turned wood with natural wear, period-appropriate joinery or threading, and genuine optical glass showing minor surface imperfections, age-related oxidation, and correct concave curvature.

This object can be displayed on a mantelpiece, office desk, or within a bookshelf as a tactile curiosity, adding historic academic character and textural interest to contemporary shelf styling.

Keep the item away from direct sunlight and high humidity. Dust the wooden components with a dry, soft microfibre cloth and clean the optical glass gently using a specialized lens cleaner applied to a cloth rather than directly to the glass.
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