Antique French Folding Tortoise Shell Lorgnette, Spectacles, Reading Glasses, Case, Etui

Mid to late 1800s, the necessity of a reading glass, but one crafted after the quizzing glass of earlier in the century – the folding lorgnette. Made to wear on a long gold chain or a cord, ribbon around one’s neck, long and tucked at one’s belt or waist when not in use. The pendant set has a release lever and mechanism which protects the lenses when not in use, and a fine cognac to chocolate tortoise shell plaques mounted front and back. This one is in superb condition, partly owing to a hand-crafter leather case which came with it. Measurements are noted on the photos.

Very good to excellent throughout. The lenses are clean and intact. Mechanism works perfectly. Bale is ready for your own long gold chain or laniard. I can’t be exact for you on magnification, but it seems not to be very much. Just enough to read with, perhaps a +1 to +2, no stronger. With the lenses together, not unfolded, it works as a quizzing glass or small magnifying glass, too. 

IMPORTANT NOTE regarding antique tortoise shell or ivory: We are great supporters of protection for endangered species in our modern world. We never buy or sell anything 100 years or newer; we donate to anti-poaching organizations; we don’t hunt; we conserve in ways that impact global warming (we’re totally solar at home), knowing those measures also protect the animals in the wild today. We also recognize the vast cultural history we preserve with our care and reverence for these antique objects, and agree with CITES that objects over 100 years of age have nothing whatsoever to do with species depletion in our current world. 

Our offering exceeds the age limitation of “more than 100 years of age”, and is well within the exemption for CITES regulation. If imported, met the CITES regulation. This item will be handled and shipped from our Utah business, and is not available for shipment internationally, nor within the USA to California, NY, Nevada, Hawaii, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington if it contains ivory, sorry. Please see our small print for more details.