Optical Instruments > Binoculars & Opera Glasses

Ivory Covered Opera Glasses by Plossl & Co. Vienna

Item#: SBE1138

SOLD

 

Ivory Covered Opera Glasses by Plossl & Co. Vienna - click to enlarge.Ivory Covered Opera Glasses by Plossl & Co. Vienna - click to enlarge.Ivory Covered Opera Glasses by Plossl & Co. Vienna - click to enlarge.Ivory Covered Opera Glasses by Plossl & Co. Vienna - click to enlarge.Ivory Covered Opera Glasses by Plossl & Co. Vienna - click to enlarge.

These are very rare 19th century opera glasses made of brass and covered with high quality ivory. The binoculars were made by Plossl & Co. in Vienna Austria. They are signed on the bridge and in the lid of original leather case. These opera glasses are relatively tall, 10.5 c. The eyepieces and focus wheel are also made of ivory. Magnification is 2.5. There is a small crack in the ivory. The leather case is in good condition though scuffed, the clasp is in excellent working condition the case is lined in purple velvet. (Georg) Simon Plössl, Plößl (September 19, 1794, Vienna - January 29, 1868, Vienna) was an Austrian optical instrument maker. He trained initially with the Voightländer company, but later set up his own workshop in 1823. He improved the quality of achromatic microscope objective lenses, but is best known for the eponymous telescope eyepiece, the Plössl eyepiece, made following his 1860 design, and extensively used by amateur astronomers (Wiki).