Description

Width: 23cm

Depth: 25cm

Height: 27cm

A fine early 20th century French stereoscopic viewer known as Le Taxiphote, produced by Jule Richard, one of the most respected makers of optical viewing instruments.

Housed in a well-constructed wooden cabinet, this piece represents a fascinating chapter in the history of photography and home entertainment.

The viewer features twin eyepieces designed to display stereoscopic images, creating a three-dimensional visual effect when used with glass slides.

The front retains its original maker’s plaque reading “Le Taxiphote – Stéréo-Classeur – Distributeur Automatique”, highlighting its automatic slide-changing mechanism.

The side-mounted dial allows the user to progress through a sequence of images, making it both an interactive and mechanically intriguing object.

Internally, the mechanism and viewing chamber reflect the ingenuity of early photographic technology, with carefully engineered components designed to house and present stereo slides in succession.

These viewers were often used in domestic settings to explore travel scenes, educational imagery, and early photographic collections.

A highly collectible piece, combining scientific interest, decorative appeal, and historical significance within the field of optical instruments and early photography.