Claude Paris (1703-63) was taught the elements of instrument making by Louis Joblot (professor of mathematics and microscope maker), and constructed mathematical instruments from the age of 17, before specialising in optical instruments. In about 1732 he started researching the techniques necessary to create high quality reflecting telescopes to equal those being imported from England, and was granted a patent in 1733 to construct and sell his telescopes, which he did in partnership with an optician called Gonichon. Paris met Edward Scarlett, the well-known maker of Gregorian telescopes in 1738, who told him the secret composition of the alloy used in the construction of his telescopes, and Paris and Gonichon also developed a mirror polishing machine to manufacture suitable mirrors for their telescopes. The quality of the telescopes produced by using these techniques caused the Encyclopédie to comment that: "MM. Paris & Gonichon associés .. méritent ici une place & nos éloges, pour avoir eu le courage de tenter de faire de ces télescopes, & y avoir réussi sans aucun des secours qu'avoient les opticiens anglois. Les premiers télescopes de MM. Paris & Gonichon furent faits ver l'année 1733 ... Depuis, ces célebres artistes n'ont cessé de perfectionner cet instrument, & il auroit été à souhaiter qu'on les eût encouragés davantage, pour qu'ils eussent pu porter cette partie de l'optique aussi loin que les Anglois" (tome XVI, p. 44). The esteem in which Paris' telescopes were held is also shown by their presence in the collections of the Académie des Sciences and the royal families of Denmark, Poland and Saxony. The Abbé Nollet, quoted by Daumas, comments that Paris was "appointed to the king for his optical work". (p. 263). Despite his celebrity, instruments by Paris are rare: Daumas notes that, "Few of Paris' instruments survived". Nachet describes and illustrates a similar Gregorian telescope 90cm. long, signed "Pâris, à Paris" (item 104, plate XII). However, its stand is less sophisticated than that of the present example, lacking the worm drive traverse and elevation mechanisms, and it has no star-finder telescope.