Sterling Silver Victorian Folding Lorgnette

Antiques : Accessories : Sterling Silver Lorgnette

 

Shown here is an attractive pair of sterling silver, Late Victorian Era antique folding lorgnette, circa 1890’s. There is a loop to run a ribbon or a chain through so they can be worn around the neck. They are a compact small size so you may tuck them into a pocket or your purse. I use a pair as a handy magnifier because they look so beautiful and work so well. This pair is fitted with 10X lenses which doubles, when closed, to 20X. You can even have your own prescription mounted into this antique lorgnette so that they would be even more useable than simply as a magnifier.

This lorgnette is spring-loaded and is perfect mechanically, with a push-button that springs the glasses open. Lorgnettes were produced primarily for the fashionable ladies of the time, women, who did not customarily wear unfashionable eyeglasses, used lorgnettes to improve their vision. Well dressed ladies wore "long chains", sometimes looped through the lorgnette which you could do as well, wearing the lorgnette where it’s easily accessible. A sterling silver chain would look very nice with this one. They will come with a silk cord with a glass bead "slide".

The lovely lorgnette is in fabulous condition and ready to improve your close-up vision. Please notice that I’ve included a photo of a quarter (coin) taken through the lenses. You can see how sharp the magnification is.

These are the perfect way to see your libretto at the opera or to get a close look at a sliver, a silver maker’s mark, or any difficult to see item, especially if you’ve forgotten your glasses. Typical of those clever Victorians, they are both pretty and practical.

Measurements:

3 3/4” from loop end of handle to the top of the lens.

1 ¾” Wide when closed.

4 ¼” Across when open.

Weight: 28 Grams

Item ID: SIL 02