An Edwardian faux tortoiseshell lorgnette - an elegant pair of fine oval spectacles attached to a long mock-tortoiseshell arm. The glasses fold away into the handle, and the handle would have been attached to a fine chain or thread and hung about the user's neck. The spectacles were held up to the face as and when needed - to observe, such as at the theatre or when taking a sidelong look.

History

The word lorgnette is derived from the French lorgner, to take a sidelong look at, and Middle French, from lorgne, squinting. The lorgnette was usually used as a piece of jewelry rather than to enhance vision, and fashionable 19^th century ladies of the period usually preferred them to spectacles. They were very popular at masquerades and used often at the opera, yet the lorgnette was mainly employed as a prop for affectation.

Dimensions: Length of handle 25cm

Country of origin: UK

Date of manufacture: c.1900

Material: Xylonite faux tortoiseshell

Condition: excellent