This antique Victorian lorgnette pendant is crafted in 9ct yellow gold, therefore most likely English, weighs exactly 14g and measures 3 inches long, 35mm wide and 4mm deep. Designed as an alluring lorgnette pendant, this authentic Victorian dainty magnifying glass, considered an indispensable accessory for the fine Victorian ladies, exposes a high impact beveled crystal lens mounted in an immaculately chased, neo-classically inspired gold frame. This temptingly refined pendant features an absorbing lyre-motif silhouette beneath the magnifying lens, artistically rendered in repousse gold. The rotating, pear-shaped loop of pronounced size is embellished with neoclassically themed decorative chase work.

Lorgnettes, a pair of framed lens with a lateral handle, first appeared in the 18th century pioneered by an Englishman named George Adams. The lorgnette probably developed from the French designed ‘binocles-ciseaux’ meaning scissors-glass, which was a double eyeglass on a handle. Since the two parts of the handle joined below the nose and looked as if they were about to cut it off, they were termed as ‘binocles-ciseaux’ or scissors glasses. The English changed the size and form of the scissors-glasses to produce what then became known as lorgnettes. The frame and handle were, without exception, artistically embellished, since they were used mostly by Victorian ladies, more often decorative as opposed to functional. The lorgnette maintained its popularity with ladies of fashion, who refused to wear spectacles, and remained in vogue throughout the Victorian and Edwardian era however Edwardian lorgnettes were of more sophisticated design, frequently adorned with diamond encrusted frames.

E829C8

Suggested Retail Price: $800.00 Your Price: $520.00 $350.00 Wholesale Price: $400.00