Various Makers
Collection of opera glasses with display cabinet


late 19th century
brass, aluminum, lacquered metal, mother-of-pearl, enamel, hand-painted and gilt enamel, glass, wood, leather
largest: 5.625 h x 5.5 w x 2.75 d in (14 x 14 x 7 cm)
smallest: 1.875 h x 4 w x 1.5 d in (5 x 10 x 4 cm)
display cabinet: 27.5 h x 24 w x 15 d in (70 x 61 x 38 cm)

Collection is comprised of twenty-six pairs of opera glasses; most examples are French and eight pairs have attached original handles. Various manufacturer's marks to twenty-two examples including 'Le Maire Paris', 'H. Falk Berlin', and 'Eduard Gottlieb Wien'. Sold with two leather opera glass cases.

Provenance: Important Private Collection, Highland Park, IL

This work will ship from Chicago, Illinois.

Various degrees of generally light wear to most examples. Some glasses have losses to decorative elements, and two pairs are partially missing their lenses. Other lenses show scratching and no longer function clearly. The two leather cases show some crackling, dryness and edge wear. The display case shows light scratching and wear, with some very small losses to inlaid edge details. Drop-down door latch does not lock properly.