Lorenz Clarissa Tropen (Tropical)
The Lorenz Clarissa Tropen (Tropical) is a tropical-finish folding plate camera, a body style produced for use in hot and humid climates with brass fittings and wood or leather covering in place of standard finishes. It belongs to the early 20th-century European folding-camera tradition, where Tropen variants were sold at a premium over the standard models.
Auction evidence for this model is extremely thin: a single Christie's hammer result from November 2002 sold for £998. With only one UK auction-hammer datapoint on record, today's value cannot be reliably triangulated, and any current price estimate would be speculative; collectors should treat that 2002 figure as a historical reference rather than a guide to what the camera is worth or sells for in 2026.
Sales History
Prices shown are UK auction hammer results — the wholesale level achieved in the saleroom. Neither buyer’s nor seller’s commission is included. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher.
| Date | Price | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2002 | £998 | Christie's | |
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Auction: PHOTOGRAPHS, MAGIC LANTERNS AND OPTICAL TOYS AND CAMERAS (Lot 424) Title: Clarissa tropical camera
Description:
Clarissa tropical camera Estimate: £800 - £1,200 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Lorenz Clarissa Tropen worth today?
The only recorded UK auction sale is a Christie's hammer price of £998 from 2002, so a reliable current value cannot be stated from the available data.
How much does a Lorenz Clarissa Tropen (Tropical) sell for at auction?
Sales data is limited to one hammer result of £998 in 2002; with no recent comparables, the price a clean example would achieve today is uncertain.
Why does the Tropen version command a higher price than the standard model?
Tropical-finish cameras were built in smaller numbers with brass and wood construction for export to hot climates, and that scarcity is what typically drives the value premium among collectors.