BEALL GALLERY:
"CASED" KALEIDOSCOPE SERIES

    These maple- and bubinga-cased scopes were two of a limited-production series of eight. The other scopes in the series were all of different wood. I used bubinga, cocobolo, ash, ebony, and cherry, and each had different inlays and contrasting woods. I sold them all to an New York art dealer who has a sideline in 'scopes. He didn't want the cases though, claiming that collectors wouldn't want them. So, I kept the cases and converted them to humidors. I sold the bubinga humidor and still have the maple.

       All the 'scopes in this series had large, rotating, ball-bearing ends for the object cases. To avoid the problems involved in joining wood to metal, I attached the bearings to the ends of the wooden barrels with neodymium magnets, which held them very firmly but allowed the wood to expand and contract with humidity changes.
     I enjoyed making these scopes because they represented the very best of my talents and accumulated experience. I made all the brass parts and the glass lampwork as well.