The Stéréoscope en Ivorine is a compact, binocular shaped, hand-held stereoscope that was manufactured by Mattey. The stereoscope shows similarities with Lucien Bize’s Jumelle Lux. The viewer is only suitable for glass stereoviews, and models exist for 45 x 107 mm and 6 x 13 cm slides. Later models could be fitted with achromatic lenses. The Stéréoscope en Ivorine was available in the colours black or marble red1.
Specifications
| Manufacturer: | Mattey |
| Year of introduction: | c. 1910 |
| Year of manufacture: | c. 1910–1940 |
| Type: | Hand-held |
| Viewer: | Single-view |
| Serial number: | None |
| Stereoview support: | Glass |
| Stereoview format: | 45 x 107 mm |
| Lens focussing: | Yes |
| Inter-ocular adjustment: | No |
| Eyepiece blinders: | No |
| Dimensions (L x W x H): | 12 x 8.5 x 6 cm |
| Construction: | Bakelite, ivory imitation |
| Other features: | Central focusing ring |
Glossary: achromatic lens / hand-held / inter-ocular adjustment / single-view
Mattey
Mattey was one of the leading manufacturers of stereoscopes in France. The company offered the widest range of stereoscopes of all manufacturers. The company was founded in 1872, but its expansion began with the establishment of Société Mattey père et fils on 31 December 1902. The names behind the company were André Élie Victor Mattey (1844–1919), and his son Albert Georges Mattey (1873–1940). Mattey’s business grew through acquisitions. The most important was the acquisition of Maison Legendre in 1902, which set the foundation for Mattey’s stereoscope business.
Société Mattey père et fils was dissolved on 1 January 1912, and the company was continued by Albert Georges as Stéréoscopes A. Mattey. The company was located at 208, Rue Saint-Maur in Paris from 1906 but moved to 15, Rue Clavel in 1936. After the Second World War, the company continued as Société des Anciens Établissements A. Mattey. It still manufactured stereoscopes in 1952, although the heydays of stereoscopy were over by then. Mattey’s products were also branded Unis France, a collective trademark to guarantee the French origin of high-quality products, made by different companies.
The complete story of Mattey
References
- Mattey, A. (1922) Stéréoscopes 1922. p. 33 ↩︎