Optical connections

ne would expect an eminent architect to understand the interior lighting requirements The mirror man of a building he is working on. Sir John David Baker continues his series with a famous architect whose SoaneO (1753-1837), most famous for archive throws an interesting light on the early optical trade his rebuilding of the Bank of England, devised some ingenious solutions to store. Intriguingly, there is another lighting his own house with the help invoice from R Huntley dated March of a famous name in optics. He also 1830, which seems to have been paid left behind a batch of personal optical promptly – but it is for work carried bills that illustrates both his own visual out in September 1827. A long time to history and the nature of early 19th wait for payment! century optical trade. Some of the invoices are as Soane was born at Whitchurch, Sir John interesting for their letterheads as for Oxfordshire, the son of a bricklayer Soane aged their contents. One group illustrates named Soan. He started out as 76, painted the progression of ownership of an errand boy for the architect by Sir the business. An invoice heading who, on Thomas of 1830 of ‘McAll’ becomes in late recognising his talent, took him into his Lawrence in 1831 ‘[Gilkerson] and John McAll, office and subsequently transferred him 1828 Mathematical Instrument Maker[s] to that of Henry Holland, where he and Optician[s], Postern Row, Tower remained until 1776. After a two-year along the top of the tall bookcases Hill’, the words and letters in square tour of Italy he returned to England, on opposite sides of the room. The brackets having been crossed through. built several country homes to adjoining dining room also has large But seeing as an 1833 invoice is again commission and made a good marriage plane mirrors surrounding portraits headed simply ‘McAll’, perhaps the to the daughter of a wealthy builder; at on opposite sides of the room. In both one just referred to above was a case of which time he added the flourish of an cases the idea is to create an illusion using up old stationery. The business extra ‘e’ to his surname. of space through infinite regression changes hands again as, by September In 1788, he was appointed architect of reflections; this is particularly 1835, a receipt is headed, ‘Receipt from to the Bank of England. He enlarged effective during candlelit dinners, a R P Keane, late McAll.’ This receipt and practically rebuilt the bank’s tradition with which the museum is for ‘1 Pair of Pearl and gold chased entire structure, bringing him wide continues. Sadly, there is probably no spectacles’ for a princely £5, a sure sign recognition. He was elected a Royal way of knowing whether any of these of Soane’s status and success. Academician in 1802 and became, mirrors are also the Dollonds’ work, Finally worthy of note, considering in 1806, the Academy’s Professor not least because most of the Dollond Soane’s cataract operation, is an invoice of Architecture. By this time Soane archive has been destroyed by fire. dated 10 April 1832 for ‘3 pairs had also begun works on his own spectacles with cataract glasses’ totalling properties in Lincoln’s Inn Fields. Opticians’ bills £2.14s.0d. These he ordered from yet He rebuilt three houses on the north The bills and receipts from Soane’s another optician: ‘Watkins & Hill, side. His ingenious use of natural opticians that are held in the museum Optical and Mathematical Instrument light and space can still be seen at the archive range in date from 1813 to Makers to His Majesty & Curators labyrinthine number 13, which is open 1835. At the age of 60, by the time of of Philosophical Apparatus to the to the public (with free entry) as the Sir the first invoice, he would certainly University of London, 5 Charing Cross, Museum. have been presbyopic. However, by London.’ There is a tantalising reference in 1815 he was complaining of weak Despite the best efforts of all these ‘Journal Two’ of Soane’s accounts to eyes, occasionally ‘too weak to read.’ opticians Soane obviously found visual a payment made on 29 January 1794, In December 1825 he had a cataract satisfaction hard to come by, and he of £29.8s.0d, for ‘2 convex mirrors’ to operation, but weak eyes were still a remained open to any suggestions for ‘P&J Dollond.’ This would have been constant problem thereafter; illustrated improving his situation. His diary, for the first house, at number 12. But perhaps by the fact that he seems to for instance, for June 1834, records there are numerous convex mirrors have visited several opticians. one unorthodox remedy that he to be seen in number 13, strategically The first invoice is from a Mr tried: ‘Lotion for the eyes, Pint of placed to give the appearance of Richardson, dated 30 July 1813, for Cold Spring Water, Tablespoon of opening up space. They are illustrated various items including ‘A Pr of White Wine Vinegar, Tablespoon of in a catalogue of Soane’s furniture Tortoiseshell and silver spectacles cognac brandy, applied with a sponge.’ published in Furniture History (Vol with Brazil pebbles’ costing £1.16s.0d. Whether it helped is not recorded, XLIV, 2009), the journal of the On 20 April 1817 he purchased although one wonders if he might have Furniture History Society. from Mr Berge (‘successor to the late been better off drinking it. One group of four mirrors at Mr Ramsden’) ‘A Pr of tortoiseshell I would like to thank Susan Palmer, the corners of the dome above the hand spectacles’ at 15s. An invoice Sir John Soane Museum Archivist, for breakfast room create a complex series for 24 March 1824 tells us that Soane her help, particularly for allowing me to of ‘fish-eye’ reflections, and were bought several items from ‘R Huntley, examine the Soane invoices and other presumably for the benefit of those Working Optician, 52 High , materials. ● seated at the central table. The library near Brownlow Street.’ These premises has a set of plane mirrors running are now occupied by an electronics ● David Baker is an independent OO

14 | Optician | 23.04.10 opticianonline.net

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