Optical Instruments > Spectacles & Eye Glasses

19th Century Steel Folding Pince-Nez Spectacles with Gray Lenses

Item#: OIS618

SOLD

 

These steel folders were made with spring bridge, cork nose pads and gray globular lenses.Pince-nez (French for "pinch nose") are a style of folding spectacles clipped to the nose by a spring bridge. First made their appearance in the late 18th century, reaching their peak popularity by the end of the 19th century. Folded Pince-nez were usually suspended from a ribbon or chain worn round the neck, or tied to the buttonhole of a lapel. Provenance: From the Orr collection, Inventory No. 119. Hugh Orr (1905 - 2002) was a collector and curator of the British Optical Association Museum. In 1985 he published the book “Illustrated History of Antique Spectacles”.