Rare Antique Georgian Scissor Spectacles, Pince-Nez or Binocles-Ciseaux C1820.

Description: Rare Antique Georgian Scissor Spectacles, Pince-Nez or Binocles-Ciseaux C1820. Pince-nez is a style of glasses supported without earpieces, by pinching the bridge of the nose. The name comes from the French pincer, "to pinch", and nez, "nose". The earliest spectacles that we have records for are a primitive form of pince-nez, the lenses held in shaped bone with a pivoting iron rivet allowing the frames to be folded when not in use. Paintings from the Netherlands depict the scissor or rivet spectacles in 1392. The lens was made by using beryl, a semi-precious mineral, on the glass. The frames were extremely light, but the tension in the rivet, would have loosened over time, making them unable to stay on the nose. Through time many different materials would be employed to create the frames, this was mainly governed by the amount the owner could afford to pay. This type of spectacles had all but disappeared by the 1820s, when the more practical and now familiar style of spectacles took over. This is a very rare pair of antique Georgian straight rivet or scissor spectacles, they are also called pince-nez or binocles-ciseaux. The frame is beautifully made using dark horn. The handle, this is between the lens and pivot point is elegantly shaped. One of the pieces extends and has a fixed loop or ring carved in the horn body, so that the user could attach a ribbon or chain and wear them around the neck when not in use. This same piece has an additional bracket to hold the second lens in position when folded. The second piece has a small protrusion on the frame to create a ‘stop’ against the bracket when folded. The glasses pivot smoothly and still have some tension. There is a crack in the horn frame where it holds the glass on one side only, this could be easily repaired. The scissor glasses are being offered in good used antique condition and measure, when folded, approx. 8.2cm by 3.6cm by 0.7cm. A rare and interesting collectable. Please see pictures for more details. 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

Price: 75 GBP

Location: Washaway

End Time: 2024-10-04T16:27:44.000Z

Shipping Cost: 25.78 GBP