English instrument maker John Cuthbert built this reflecting microscope in 1826 in an attempt to improve image resolution by reducing chromatic and spherical aberration.

The microscope is constructed primarily from brass and uses a plano-concave mirror to concentrate the illumination into a substage condenser. These components, along with a mechanical stage, are all mounted onto a small pillar that is attached to the body tube of the microscope. A central pillar provides support for the body tube through a hinged mount, and the entire assembly is supported by a tripod base. Magnification is achieved with four interchangeable concave mirror-style objectives, assisted by three Lieberkuhn reflectors of different sizes and two Huygenian eyepieces.

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