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Eighteenth Century Collection (#13)

The eighteenth century was a time of great political and cultural change, with figures like William Pitt shaping the course of British history

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: A Parliamentary Election the Eighteenth Century: Chairing a Member, Uk

A Parliamentary Election the Eighteenth Century: Chairing a Member, Uk

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: Map of New York about the Middle of the Eighteenth Century, from Popples Atlas

Map of New York about the Middle of the Eighteenth Century, from Popples Atlas, United States of America, Us, Usa, 1870S Engraving

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: Main bedroom, Burns Cottage, Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Alloway, Ayrshire, Scotland, July

Main bedroom, Burns Cottage, Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Alloway, Ayrshire, Scotland, July

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: Uniforms of Royal Auvergne and Flandres, military men playing cards

Uniforms of Royal Auvergne and Flandres, military men playing cards
France, 18th century. Uniforms of Royal Auvergne and Flandres, military men playing cards

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: Theatre performance held on occasion of wedding of Joseph II of Austria with Maria Isabella of

Theatre performance held on occasion of wedding of Joseph II of Austria with Maria Isabella of Parma, October 6, 1760
Austria, 18th century. Theatre performance held on the occasion of the wedding of Joseph II of Austria with Maria Isabella of Parma, October 6, 1760

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: Caricature of English novelists speaking of taking of Grenada on July 4, 1779

Caricature of English novelists speaking of taking of Grenada on July 4, 1779
France, 18th century France. Les nouvellistes Analois. Caricature of English novelists speaking of the taking of Grenada on July 4, 1779

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: Two lancets and shagreen case, circa 1790 C017 / 3561

Two lancets and shagreen case, circa 1790 C017 / 3561
Green shagreen (rough, granular surfaced leather) lancet case with two tortoiseshell lancets. Lancets are double-edged surgical blades with a pointed end

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: Carved horn Lancet case, 18th century C017 / 3553

Carved horn Lancet case, 18th century C017 / 3553
This lancet case was made in and exported from china in 1790. It is carved from horn with an extremely detailed traditional oriental scene

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: Etui with three lancets, 18th century C017 / 3565

Etui with three lancets, 18th century C017 / 3565
Silver etui engraved with a lion design and three lancets. Lancets are double edged surgical blades with a pointed end. These instruments were used to open patients veins for bloodletting

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: Lancets with cases, circa 1790 -1830 C017 / 3578

Lancets with cases, circa 1790 -1830 C017 / 3578
Two lancets with their cases. The smaller lancet (left) dates from around 1790 and the larger (right), from around 1830. Both lancets are English and made from steel (blade) and tortoiseshell (handle)

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: Two lancets and their case, circa 1790 C017 / 3560

Two lancets and their case, circa 1790 C017 / 3560
Two lancets with tortoiseshell handles and their silver and fishskin case. These were made in England by Simpson of the Strand around the year 1790

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: Mechanical scarificators, circa 1780-1900 C017 / 3562

Mechanical scarificators, circa 1780-1900 C017 / 3562
A collection of single and multibladed mechanical scarificators. These include examples from England, France and Germany and they date from between 1780 and 1900

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: Silver etui with 3 lancets, 18th century C017 / 3591

Silver etui with 3 lancets, 18th century C017 / 3591
Silver etui engraved with a lion design and three lancets. Lancets are double edged surgical blades with a pointed end. These instruments were used to open patients veins for bloodletting

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: Botanical microscope, circa 1780 C018 / 7124

Botanical microscope, circa 1780 C018 / 7124
Botanical microscope, circa 1780

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: Baby feeder, late 18th century C018 / 7114

Baby feeder, late 18th century C018 / 7114
Pewter bubby pot or baby feeder dating from the late eighteenth century, England. These pots were filled with liquid food or pap (usually a combination of milk, bread)

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: Pap boat, 18th century C018 / 7122

Pap boat, 18th century C018 / 7122
Pewter invalid feeder or pap boat dating from eighteenth century England. These were commonly used to assist with feeding the infirm

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: Aquatic microscope, circa 1780 C018 / 7125

Aquatic microscope, circa 1780 C018 / 7125
Simple aquatic microscope with a sharkskin case, dating from around 1780, England. The objective lens is positioned at the top

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: Single blade scarificator, 18th century C017 / 3574

Single blade scarificator, 18th century C017 / 3574
Single-bladed spring scarificator, made from steel. This instrument was designed to create wounds on the surface of the skin, principally for wet cupping procedures

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: Medical claw pincers, circa 1700 C017 / 8397

Medical claw pincers, circa 1700 C017 / 8397
Blacksmith-made claw pincers for medical use, dating from around 1700. This crude instrument would have been used, rather brutally, for tooth extraction

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: Pelican tooth extractor, circa 1751 C017 / 8390

Pelican tooth extractor, circa 1751 C017 / 8390
Pelican tooth extractor, made of steel with screw adjustment. These were an early type of dental forceps, so named due to their claw which was thought to resemble a pelicans beak

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: Pelican tooth extractor, circa 1750 C017 / 8389

Pelican tooth extractor, circa 1750 C017 / 8389
Pelican tooth extractor, made of steel with screw adjustment. These were an early type of dental forceps, so named due to their claw which was thought to resemble a pelicans beak

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: Pelican tooth extractor, circa 1750 C017 / 8382

Pelican tooth extractor, circa 1750 C017 / 8382
Adjustable pelican, tooth extractor, with screw mechanism. Pelicans are an early type of dental forceps, so named due to their claw which was thought to resemble a pelicans beak

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: Two pelican tooth extractors, circa 1750 C017 / 8364

Two pelican tooth extractors, circa 1750 C017 / 8364
Two pelican tooth extractors, one is in boxwood (left) and the other in ebony (right). Pelican extractors were an early type of dental forceps

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: Pelican tooth extractor, circa 1750 C017 / 8363

Pelican tooth extractor, circa 1750 C017 / 8363
Pelican tooth extractor, made of steel. These were an early type of dental forceps, so named due to their claw which was thought to resemble a pelicans beak

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: 18th Century 18-pounder guns on seafront of seaside town, Gun Hill, Southwold, Suffolk, England, may

18th Century 18-pounder guns on seafront of seaside town, Gun Hill, Southwold, Suffolk, England, may

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: 18th Century 18-pounder gun on seafront of seaside town, Gun Hill, Southwold, Suffolk, England, may

18th Century 18-pounder gun on seafront of seaside town, Gun Hill, Southwold, Suffolk, England, may

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: Cartwrights engine

Cartwrights engine. Historical artwork of Cartwrights alcohol engine that was patented in 1797. Edmund Cartwright (1743-1823) was an English inventor and clergyman

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: Watts rotary engine

Watts rotary engine. Historical artwork of part of a steam engine designed by the British engineer James Watt (1736-1819)

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: Leopolds engine

Leopolds engine. Historical artwork of Leopolds non-condensing steam engine patented in 1720. It has two cylinders (upper right) that receive steam alternately from the furnace below (lower right)

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: Hornblowers engine

Hornblowers engine. Historical artwork of Hornblowers steam engine that was patented in 1781. Jonathan Hornblower (1753-1815) was an English engine maker

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: The changing seasons

The changing seasons

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: Orbit of a comet

Orbit of a comet

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: Solar eclipse paths

Solar eclipse paths. Historical map of the paths of four solar eclipses over Great Britain during the 1700s. The map is from the book The use of globes

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: Electricity experiment

Electricity experiment. Historical artwork of the electricity researcher Abbe (abbot) Jean Antoine Nollet conducting an experiment

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: William Penn, English coloniser

William Penn, English coloniser

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: Detail from 18th century Roman mosaic

Detail from 18th century Roman mosaic. Detail from the 18th century frame surrounding a third century mosaic depicting the phases of the moon (top left corner)

Background imageEighteenth Century Collection: Protrait of one of Indias most celebrated 18th centure female rulers

Protrait of one of Indias most celebrated 18th centure female rulers, Ahilya Bai Holkar. Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh, India




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The eighteenth century was a time of great political and cultural change, with figures like William Pitt shaping the course of British history. In Nuremberg, Germany, the Hesperides Gardens showcased the beauty of citrus fruit through stunning displays such as Cedrato con fior e Sugo doppio. These gardens were digitally restored reproductions of their original 18th-century splendor. Meanwhile, in Bavaria, Germany, other sections of the Hesperides Gardens featured Citrus Aranzi del grand Sorte and Herrnhuetten. The intricate designs and carefully cultivated fruits brought joy to visitors from near and far. Across Europe, art flourished during this period. George Cruikshank's painting "The Court at Brighton a La Chinese" captured the fascination with Eastern aesthetics that permeated society at the time. In Spain's Malaga Province, travelers marveled at natural wonders like Tajo Gorge and New Bridge in Ronda. The breathtaking scenery served as inspiration for artists seeking to capture its grandeur on canvas. Back in Britain, young men pursued careers in navigation and exploration. A portrait titled "Midshipman" depicted a determined individual carrying a sextant used for astronomical observations—a testament to their thirst for knowledge about the world around them. Artists also found inspiration closer to home. A landscape painting depicting cattle grazing against an idyllic backdrop showcased rural life during this era. Dublin's Custom House stood as a symbol of Ireland's trade connections during this time period when it functioned as a customs office before becoming home to the Department of Environment and Local Government. Religion played an important role throughout Europe as well. A digitally restored reproduction showed a preacher delivering his sermon in Berlin during the 18th century—a glimpse into religious practices that shaped communities' lives. In Rome, Italy, architectural marvels abounded.