Telescope by Galileo (replica)

Galileo's spyglass

This is a replica of one of only two surviving telescopes made by Galileo. He made his first telescope after hearing descriptions of a new device that had begun circulating around Europe in late 1608. He refined the design into a powerful tool for astronomy. The ornate decoration on the wood and leather tube suggests that Galileo made this telescope for demonstration to his patron Cosimo de Medici, rather than for regular use.