19th/20th Century - Silver Lorgnette - Folding Glasses with a Long Handle and Chain LORGNETTE - FOLDING GLASSES - WOMEN'S FASHION - THEATER ACCESSORIES - ART NOUVEAU
Silver (925 or 935), optical glass; engraved and relief decoration, niello; hinged mechanism; metal chain.
Length: 116.5 mm.
A folding lorgnette, i.e., a pair of portable bifocal glasses mounted on a long, slender handle. The instrument is equipped with two round lenses set in narrow silver frames. One of them is permanently attached to the handle, while the other is mounted on a hinge, allowing it to be folded against the fixed lens when not in use. When unfolded, the two frames are connected by an arched bridge, forming a pair of glasses held in front of the eyes.
The handle tapers slightly toward the center and ends in an elongated, openwork grip. Its surface is adorned with an ornament consisting of spiral tendrils and tiny dots, set against a darker, oxidized background. The lens mount is adorned with a triangular relief element featuring a motif of stylized leaves and volutes. The decorative style combines Neorococo motifs with ornamentation characteristic of early Art Nouveau.
A small part of the mechanism used to release or lock the folding frame is visible near the handle. A long metal chain is attached to the openwork end, allowing the lorgnette to be worn around the neck or fastened to clothing. The chain also served to prevent the delicate instrument from being dropped.
A lorgnette is a type of eyeglass without temples, raised to the eyes using a handle. Items of this kind were used for short-term reading, examining details, and watching theater and opera performances. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the lorgnette was also an elegant fashion accessory, particularly for women. More elaborately decorated pieces were made of silver, gold, tortoiseshell, mother-of-pearl, or base metals. The long handle allowed the lorgnette to be discreetly raised to the face, and the decorative chain gave the item the character of a jeweled salon accessory.
Condition: as shown in the photos.
Reserve
Time, Location
Auction House
Silver (925 or 935), optical glass; engraved and relief decoration, niello; hinged mechanism; metal chain.
Length: 116.5 mm.
A folding lorgnette, i.e., a pair of portable bifocal glasses mounted on a long, slender handle. The instrument is equipped with two round lenses set in narrow silver frames. One of them is permanently attached to the handle, while the other is mounted on a hinge, allowing it to be folded against the fixed lens when not in use. When unfolded, the two frames are connected by an arched bridge, forming a pair of glasses held in front of the eyes.
The handle tapers slightly toward the center and ends in an elongated, openwork grip. Its surface is adorned with an ornament consisting of spiral tendrils and tiny dots, set against a darker, oxidized background. The lens mount is adorned with a triangular relief element featuring a motif of stylized leaves and volutes. The decorative style combines Neorococo motifs with ornamentation characteristic of early Art Nouveau.
A small part of the mechanism used to release or lock the folding frame is visible near the handle. A long metal chain is attached to the openwork end, allowing the lorgnette to be worn around the neck or fastened to clothing. The chain also served to prevent the delicate instrument from being dropped.
A lorgnette is a type of eyeglass without temples, raised to the eyes using a handle. Items of this kind were used for short-term reading, examining details, and watching theater and opera performances. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the lorgnette was also an elegant fashion accessory, particularly for women. More elaborately decorated pieces were made of silver, gold, tortoiseshell, mother-of-pearl, or base metals. The long handle allowed the lorgnette to be discreetly raised to the face, and the decorative chain gave the item the character of a jeweled salon accessory.
Condition: as shown in the photos.
Reserve
Time, Location
Auction House
