Giovanni Battista Amici, a famous nineteenth-century Italian microscope designer, built this novel horizontal microscope about 1850. The microscope is part of a larger series of horizontal designs originating from Amici during this time period.

The body tube of the microscope is oriented horizontally and secured to the main limb by means of a brass collar. A sturdy tripod base supports the entire instrument at the base of the limb, which contains collars for both the substage reflecting concave mirror and a condenser that contains a horizontal rotating disk having four apertures to vary the numerical aperture. Provided with an adequate supply of horizontal and vertical adjustments, this sophisticated microscope is made entirely of brass. The optical axis of the objective is vertical, however the microscope can be used with either transmitted or reflected light. A convergent lens, attached to the microscope body with an adjustable arm, provides a concentrated source of light for oblique illumination.

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