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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: UndrState on October 19, 2011, 12:04:19 PM

Title: Micro photograph inside bead
Post by: UndrState on October 19, 2011, 12:04:19 PM

Hello,
About a decade ago, I bought a bone-carved dip pen with little holes in the handle, one of which contains a small bead of glass which, when held up to the eye, has a photograph of Jacob's Pillow Rock in it.

I am just looking for the term for such a bead/photo. The antique dealer I spoke to indicated that there was such a term, but couldn't remember what it was. I'm also kind of curious to know if these are find-able and collectible, as it seems the pen I have is meant to store more (I suspect something like a tour of the holy land).

Sorry for not having a photo of the pen. Photograph of Jacob's Rock was sepia coloured and captioned at the bottom.

Title: Re: Micro photograph inside bead
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on October 19, 2011, 12:16:01 PM

It is called a Stanhope, named after the guy who developed the process.

Title: Re: Micro photograph inside bead
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on October 19, 2011, 12:19:17 PM

http://www.stanhopes.info/a_closer_view.html (http://www.stanhopes.info/a_closer_view.html) The inventor was Charles, 3rd Earl of Stanhope. Check out the article at this link, there is a lot of info there.

Title: Re: Micro photograph inside bead
Post by: UndrState on October 20, 2011, 06:45:57 AM

You're a god-send! Thank you, I think you just put me out of my misery ;)

Title: Re: Micro photograph inside bead
Post by: snowflake on October 20, 2011, 10:46:29 AM

Good one, Tales! This one had me stumped and was bugging me!

Title: Re: Micro photograph inside bead
Post by: KC on October 20, 2011, 11:08:27 AM

Great job Talesof!  Totally forgot that term!!!!

Title: Re: Micro photograph inside bead
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on October 20, 2011, 11:24:17 AM

I'm glad this was helpful. We had someone a while ago who remembered her mother having a tiny pig where you looked up the pig's backside to see a picture inside. That kind of stuck in my mind, LOL!