Subiaco Museum > Records

VIEWER: WOODEN STEREOSCOPE

c. 1900
Overview

Stereoscope used to view double image cards to create a visual illusion of a three dimensional image. Light brown wooden instrument consisting of curved face piece with left and right glass lenses. This is held up to the viewer's eyes using a turned wooden handle with brass hinged attachment to the base of a shaft which protrudes forward from the face piece. A bracket which is missing from this stereoscope holds the image card in place.

Historical information

Stereoscopes were also called stereo viewers. The earliest stereoscope has been attributed to Sir Charles Wheatstone as well as to David Brewster. They quickly became the most popular forms of entertainment for middle- and upper-class families during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Oliver Wendell Holmes invented an updated, hand-held version of the stereoscope which then became the favourite for home and classroom use from 1881 to 1939.

Details

Details

Registration number
cwa-org-43-2005.1
Item type
Objects
Material
Wood
Brass
Glass
Width
150 mm
Height or length
330 mm
Keywords
Entertainment
PHOTOGRAPHY
City of Subiaco
toys
Hamilton Street, Subiaco
Wicken Family
Year
c. 1900
Statement of significance

Historical significance - example of domestic entertainment of the period.

Condition: Interpretive: Provenance: Representativeness: Aesthetic: Social:

Primary significance criteria
Artistic or aesthetic significance
Social or spiritual significance
Comparative significance criteria
Interpretive capacity
Object’s condition or completeness
Rare or representative
Well provenanced
Last modified
Monday, 30 June, 2025
Completeness
94
Subiaco Museum

Subiaco Museum

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