An early boîte d'optique and a collection of cut aways by Martin Engelbrecht, ca.1750

[PEEPSHOW]. EARLY BOÎTE D’OPTIQUE. [German or Dutch ca. 1750]. Oak box measuring 500x 160x 115mm with lens upper front, to the rear a sliding panel reveals the 5 sets of quarter beaded rests and grooves designed to take a six section peepshow, the back-board resting in a groove on the foot of the box; the black mirrored angle probably nineteenth century. A fine late eighteenth century peepshow display box, most commonly known as the boîte d’optique. These ‘often had more height than depth, using a combination of viewing lens in front, and a mirror placed at a forty-five degree angle. One looked through the mirror, and the eye was redirected downward toward the view of views. Such boxes might have prosceniums and might accommodate the viewing of several layered images, but had no mechanism for mechanically changing views.’ Richard Balzer, Peepshows A Visual History, p. 31. For a similar boîte illustrated, see also p.36 of the same work. The boite d'optique comes with a collection of eight (8) cut aways engraved by Martin Engelbrecht [Augsburg] (1684-1756) dating c.1750. The cut aways depict various typical 18th century scenes, such as theatre, palacial rooms, neoclassical gardens and the biblical episode of David and Goliath. Each series consists in a set of 6 copper engraved card-backed, cut away sheets combining to create an early peep show, [105×142 mm] with original hand-colouring, full list below:

'DE WANDELING'

'A MARINE BATTLE' DAVID & GOLIATH'

'LEGERPLAATS DER SOLDOMATEN'

'A WINTERS SCENE WITH SLEIGH RIDERS'

'THE OUTDOOR THEATRE'

'A LOVERS MEETING'

'THE ITALIAN GARDEN' c.1750