Here on offer is a stylish pair of antique folding lorgnettes, dating to mid to late 1800’s

Lorgnettes were once an essential fashion item allowing the owner a further display of their wealth and style status, they could be used simply as an addition to one’s wardrobe or for practical necessity. In 1893 the fashion commentator C. Willett Cunnington declared ‘nearly every smartly dressed woman wears a lorgnette’.

The lorgnettes have an elegantly simple design and are free of decoration. The lorgnettes fold the eyepieces in place over one another when out of use and are held by a simple mechanism. The area close to the bale has a hook that fits over a button. the bridge is sprung metal and so makes the fit very flexible. There is some scoring to help grip the nose. The mechanism is in good order. The frames and bridge have a plain polished finish. The lenses are without damage, there is a small piece of the frame missing. 

The lorgnettes are offered in good antique condition. Folded they measure about 7cm (including the bale) by 3.3cm, the lenses are 3.2cm, the bridge is 3cm.

A unique opportunity for a discerning collector.

Please see my pictures for the details of the condition.

Thanks for looking and Happy Bidding!

Please ask if you would like me to look at cheaper delivery services.

I am always happy to combine postage, all I ask if you let me know if you are bidding on more than one item within a few days of each other. I will pack and weigh the items together and get the best possible price that I can, sometimes weight or value might dictate that I send multiple parcels to get a better value for you