Carlo Ponti Megalethoscope on Stand, Italian, c. 1865,

Carlo Ponti Megalethoscope on Stand, Italian, c. 1865, floral carved viewer with ebonized trim, lg. 35; set on a marble top rectangular table cabinet with carved panel doors and sides and set on carved and turned legs, with carved labels 'Ponti Venezia', 'Megaletoscopio' and 'Privilegiato', ht. 30 1/2, d. 25, lg. 39 1/2 in.; with photographic prints. Footnotes: Provenance: New England Industrialist Lucius Bowles Darling was a successful businessman and politician, including his appointment as Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island (1885-1887), and owner of the Pawtucket, Rhode Island Music Hall Building. Darling and his and wife Angeline (Armington) embarked on a Grand Tour circa 1878, purchasing items for their Pawtucket residence. Together with the original itemized invoice from Carlo Ponti, Venice, 30 July 1878 for 764 lire. Note: The invention of the megalethoscope by optician and photographer Carlo Ponti before 1862 greatly enhanced the experience of viewing photographs. Ponti was born in Switzerland and studied photography in Paris; he later opened photographic studios throughout Europe and was an optician to King Victor Emanuel II of Italy. Ponti's advanced understanding of optics led him to create a device that could create the illusion of perspective and of viewing a scene in daylight or at night. The optical illusion is achieved by inserting a specially prepared photograph into the rear of the megalethoscope to be viewed through a large lens at the front of the instrument. To view a photograph in daylight, doors with attached mirrors are opened to reflect sunlight onto the photograph. The doors were left closed for a night scene and an oil lamp was placed behind the megalethoscope to light the photograph from behind, creating the illusion of a night-time scene. Ponti created different models of the megalethoscope for both prints and transparent views. He exhibited the viewer at the International Exhibition in 1862 for which he received a medal. Given that Lucius Darling owned a music hall, it is possible it was used to delight audiences with scenes of Europe. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing