Maritime or Military Spyglass
This fine example of a three-draw brass telescope, encased in hand-stitched leather, served as a crucial tool for navigation and observation at sea, with its robust construction and clear optics enabling officers to identify distant vessels, scout coastlines, and monitor naval movements, providing a strategic advantage in a bygone era of maritime dominance. While the exact maker of this piece is unclear, similar telescopes were famously produced by London-based optical instrument makers such as A. Maspoli or Dollond, often commissioned for use by the British Royal Navy. More than just a functional instrument, this spyglass embodies the spirit of exploration and the technological advancements in optics that significantly impacted naval warfare and global trade during its time.


The weathered brass and worn leather of the telescope suggest a lifetime of active service, with each scratch and patina silently telling the story of voyages across the world’s oceans.

