Patrons, Artisans and Instruments of Science, 1600-1750

Explores various aspects of the relationship between patrons and artisans in the production of scientific instruments, and of their preservation by collectors in private collections and early science museums. They include the evolution of science museums; the Dentzel brothers of Ulm; Johann Philipp Treffier as a clockmaker of Augsburg and agent for the archduke; Christina of Sweden and the sciences; the role of the automata in the history of technology; a Renaissance lapidary lathe; the compartmented cylindrical clepsydra; and 17th-century magnetic timepieces. The 13 essays were originally published in a variety of academic journals between 1961 and 1995. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)