Charles Ponti 'Luxus' Megalethoscope

CARLO PONTI MÉGALÉTHOSCOPE, this unique museum items was made by special order, the carved stained walnut viewer with ebony trim, 35½" long. The front of the viewer, carved with floral scroll design, and mounted with two knobs for rotating the viewer. The front section contains a 3 3/4 x 5" magnifying lenses, which is interchangeable for a second 5½ x 7 in. lens which gives a greater magnification. The lens is mounted in an interior wooden box with removable 4 3/4 x 6½" mask, accessible through a small hinged lid at the top of the viewer. This lens section is focused by a handle on each side of the viewer which sides in two brass-edged tracks. The viewer is mounted in the middle on a walnut circle and at the back with a wrought iron circle in the form of a serpent, which rotates the entire viewer for portrait views. The circle is carved with the words "Ponti Venezia", "Megaletoscopio" and "Privilegiato". The flared back section with four carved panels, each 14¼ x 15¼", and each carved in high relief with the bust of a different Venetian noblemen. The top panel and one of the side panels are hinged and mounted on the inside with a mirror to direct the light for front-lit viewing. The back of the viewer with hinged highly carved panel, 10 3/4 x 14¼", showing a Roman soldier with sword and shield stabbing a kneeling man in the neck. The inside of the back panel mounted with a large sheet of illustrated instructions printed in English. When opened the back reveals a hinged frame on the inside bottom of the viewer which can be raised to hold 11 in. wide views. The whole viewer rests on a stand with four turned legs and metal bracket in which the walnut circle and the iron circle ride. The viewer and stand sit on top of a matching storage cabinet with inset marble top and hairy claw legs. The stained walnut cabinet, 27 x 30 x 41", with rosewood inlay and ebony trim, and hinged doors in the front. The doors are carve