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eye socket, and releasing the posts, they sprang back, fixing their lenses in place.
When paired with an elegant top hat, morning frock, and cane, the highly
fashionable monocle, at the turn of the century, “made the man.”
Though monocles never really took off in America, they did attain a certain
stature. The first issue of The New Yorker magazine, for example, featured a dandy
peering at a butterfly through a monocle. And Planter’s iconic Mr. Peanut has
sported his since 1916.

Oh, Snap!

The earliest type
of spectacles, two
small magnifiers
fastened together,
were clumsily
clamped or held to the French lorgnette or
bridge of the nose. scissors-glasses, early 19th
Though their form century. photo: metmuseum.org
changed considerably
through the years,
wealthy, aristocratic, visually-
challenged women refused to be
seen wearing them in public. In
the 18th century, however, scissor specta-
Depicting Duke of Cumberland, Thomas Rowlandson, 1812, cles—double lenses attached to delicate, jew-
eler-designed Y-shaped frames—became the
peering through a spy-glass photo: metmuseum.org
height of fashion. Though some may have
Some binocular buffs focus on pieces from particular eras, corrected eyesight, most were worn purely as
or with specific technical specifications. Some seek adornments.
sumptuous models mounted with shagreen or decked in When short, decorative
pearls and diamonds. Others prize binoculars traced to a handles were added at one side, these elegant gold, silver, horn, or turtle shell
particular war or battle, like a WW II Imperial Japanese rimmed tiny telescopes became known as lorgnettes. For storage, their lenses
model, a mid-19th century bone and brass naval one folded neatly one upon the other or into their handles. Models combined with
identified to Captain Percival Eddy, or a true gem marked fans folded into their rigid guard sticks. Trendy, longer handled, spring action
“A souvenir/of the night/we torched/Atlanta/July/1864.” lorgnettes folded compactly into stylish brooches.
Soon afterward, binoculars, featuring inexpensive lenses and narrow visual
Eye See fields, were attached to long, lorgnette-like handles. These eventually evolved into
less bulky, far more ornamental, double lens theater binoculars, known today as
opera glasses. Every cultured lady had to have one, whether she attended
From about the 1830s, many wealthy and upper-class
European men wore monocles, round, oval, or rectangular prestigious performances in Paris or popular productions at one of the popular
“opera houses” that dotted small towns across America. These sleek, smooth,
magnifying glass lenses wedged securely within one eye socket. lightweight, portable pieces were a joy to use. Though easily slipped from pocket
Though many were standard sized, those made to order, or purse, scores were suspended on stylish neck-straps or featured handles which
though more costly, were considerably more comfortable.
raised effortlessly to eye level.
Vintage, American-made opera glasses typically featured simple, shimmering
mother-of-pearl faceting. On the other hand, fine French enamel models were
adorned with dainty drawn romantic figures amid gilt garlands and florals, or
multi-hued mother-of-pearl trimmed with gilt-bronze. Gilt silver and 18kt gold
Faberge confections were often embellished with glamorous combinations of pale
guilloche enamels, bow swags, gemstones, or scrolled engravings.
Though beauty is always enticing, many collectors value vintage personal
magnification devices for their scientific and historical significance as well.
Some, to trace their development, may collect consecutive models of a specific
type. Some seek ones by a particular maker or from a particular area or era.
Others find unusual pieces, especially those that feature fascinating social
backstories, charming. And modern-day opera fans, optometrists,
microbiologists, and students of the stars may find related
vintage personal magnifying
devices irresistible.

Spiffy monocle, often worn with top hat and cane, like the
Planters 104-year-old mascot, Mr. Peanut (1916-2020)
Early monocles were rimless or enclosed in narrow metal
loops. Later models, due to bar loss or breakage, were often
pierced and suspended by a cord to wearers’ hat brims or Metal and tortoiseshell opera glasses,
upper garments. More advanced designs featured raised edge labeled around lenses: “Bautain Bté opt-n
extensions, known as galleries, which positioned lenses more de la Reine 8 Castiglione 16 Ste Avoye,
comfortably, just outside their eye sockets. Others featured Paris”, ca. 1840
ridged, flattened-wire galleries supported by three springing photo: metmuseum.org
posts. After drawing these together, placing the lens in the
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