Aesthetics?

The “COPIE LEIDEN” does have some rather elegant little holes at the end, shaped like a heart. Was this a subtle attempt at decoration after all?

During Van Leeuwenhoek’s lifetime, there was never an image of his instruments published. From the handful of surviving real examples, we know that no two Leeuwenhoek microscopes were the same. But they weren’t truly different either: they all followed the same basic design.

The example shown here is of trustworthy origins - it was handed down through Van Leeuwenhoek’s heirs. The unique thing about this microscope is the embellishment with the three little holes that form a heart at the bottom set screw. Was this a rare case of aesthetic debauchery by Van Leeuwenhoek?

Many replicas that were produced in the last hundred years are based on the original Leeuwenhoek microscope. The embellishment on the set screw was copied with great enthusiasm. The publication history of the preserved microscopes also played an important part in the replica making process. This little microscope featured prominently in publications everywhere, and graced many book covers. The microscope has become archetypical for Van Leeuwenhoek’s production, while in reality, the production of his workshop was much more diverse.

Let us turn to the other side for the next step...