Dutch peepshow box circa 1750. 54 cm × 33 cm × 29 cm when closed and 54 cm × 33 cm × 94 cm when opened( 21 1/4" x 13" x 11 1/2" and 21 1/4" x 13" x 37").
The shaped front with with two bi-convex lenses each 140 mm in diameter set behind a sliding shutter, the rear also with a sliding shutter to admit light to the back of the prints; the case folding out, concertina fashion and held by a series of hinges and hooks; the interior fitted with two single tin backlight candle holders and the forward section with a detachable cutaway proscenium with two single front-light candle holders; together with 5 vues d’optique.

A very fine example of this form of optical peepshow. The viewer when looking through one of the two lenses is entertained by two effects. With light being thrown onto the front of the Vue d’Optique prints a daylight scene is visible. This can then be transformed into a night scene when the light is allowed to enters through to the back of the print via the opening of the back slide to reveal a spectacular night scene. Alternatively, when insufficient daylight is available, candle light is then used, a print with solid back is slid in and out to obscure or let in the light through. The clever effect is created by the print first having been carefully pierced by the pricking of pinholes so that they correspond to key reference points on the images such as windows, fireworks and astronomical events. When light enters from behind each print the illusion of a night scene illuminated with a myriad of tiny lights is displayed. To enhance the effect thin transparent paper, variously coloured in red blue green and yellow is pasted to the back of each print, this in turn presents the viewer with a more dramatic and colourful event.