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ID #SA1134294
FOR SALE
£395
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Antique Opera Glasses - Mother of Pearl C.1900, Signed, Iris, Paris
For sale by Puckerings
for sale €462     $502
£395
Puckerings

Puckerings

Sellingantiques Verified Since Jul 2009
Browse dealers 399 items
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Antique Opera Glasses - Mother of Pearl C.1900, Signed, Iris, Paris

1900 - 1920
For Sale by Puckerings
Description

A stunning pair of late Victorian or Edwardian Opera glasses dating to the turn of the century, around 1900. French in origin, each eye piece is signed, Iris, Paris together with the mark for Iris ("I" inside shaped lozenge).

The telescopic lorgnette handle extends from 5" to 7 1/2". They are clad in the most decorative Mother of Pearl or Nacre shell with it's magical iridescent qualities. The metallic frame is made from brass covered in the original gilding with a nice soft antique patina.

Excellent working condition, measuring 5" wide x 1 3/4" expanding to 2" while folded up. Complete with a drawstring pochette.

Item: 44562

FREE Worldwide Registered Airmail Directly From the UK

Date of Manufacture

Puckerings has dated these Mother of Pearl Opera Glasses to the 1900s.

Independent Date Check ID 08940058
Dealer's Item Date1900s
Sellingantiques Date1900s
Sellingantiques agingItem 115-135 years old
Test ResultsPassed dating check
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to THE 1900s:
Vulcanite eyepieces moulded with the Iris Paris mark: Parisian manufacture of the era.
Sectional mother-of-pearl plaques on the barrels: traditional turn-of-the-century optical casing.
Telescopic brass lorgnette handle with knurled collars: standard mechanical theatre design.
Maker's mark stamped into the brass bridge: French workshop optical trade.

This is an independent date and photo anotation report compiled by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.

Physical Dimensions
Height
4.4cm (1.73")
Width
12.7cm (5.00")
Depth
5.1cm (2.01")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1134294
Dealers Internal Reference
44562
Description
A stunning pair of late Victorian or Edwardian Opera glasses dating to the turn of the century, around 1900.
“
French in origin, each eye piece is signed, Iris, Paris together with the mark for Iris ("I" inside shaped lozenge).
Puckerings
fig 1. Pair of brass and mother of pearl opera glasses featuring an extendable side handle.
fig 1. Antique Opera Glasses - Mother of Pearl C.1900, Signed, Iris, Paris

The telescopic lorgnette handle extends from 5" to 7 1/2". They are clad in the most decorative Mother of Pearl or Nacre shell with it's magical iridescent qualities. The metallic frame is made from brass covered in the original gilding with a nice soft antique patina.

Excellent working condition, measuring 5" wide x 1 3/4" expanding to 2" while folded up. Complete with a drawstring pochette.

Item: 44562

FREE Worldwide Registered Airmail Directly From the UK

Date of Manufacture

Puckerings has dated these Mother of Pearl Opera Glasses to the 1900s.

Independent Date Report ID 08940058
Dealer's Item Date1900s
Sellingantiques dating1900s
Sellingantiques agingItem 115-135 years old
Test ResultsPassed dating check
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to the 1900s:
Vulcanite eyepieces moulded with the Iris Paris mark: Parisian manufacture of the era.
Sectional mother-of-pearl plaques on the barrels: traditional turn-of-the-century optical casing.
Telescopic brass lorgnette handle with knurled collars: standard mechanical theatre design.
Maker's mark stamped into the brass bridge: French workshop optical trade.

This is an independent date report produced by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.

Height
4.4cm (1.73")
Width
12.7cm (5.00")
Depth
5.1cm (2.01")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1134294
Dealers Internal Ref
44562
Puckerings
Puckerings
Sellingantiques verified Since Jul 2009

A quality online collection of antiques and fine vintage collectables

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Puckerings Profile Page

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Pair of brass and mother of pearl opera glasses featuring an extendable side handle.
1 / 9
Archive I Pair of brass and mother of pearl opera glasses featuring an extendable side handle.

Antique Opera Glasses - Mother of Pearl C.1900, Signed, Iris, Paris

Archive II Pair of brass and mother of pearl opera glasses featuring an extendable side handle. View II
Archive III Pair of brass and mother of pearl opera glasses featuring an extendable side handle. View III
Archive IV Pair of brass and mother of pearl opera glasses featuring an extendable side handle. View IV
Archive V Pair of brass and mother of pearl opera glasses featuring an extendable side handle. View V
Archive VI Pair of brass and mother of pearl opera glasses featuring an extendable side handle. View VI
Archive VII Pair of brass and mother of pearl opera glasses featuring an extendable side handle. View VII
Archive VIII Pair of brass and mother of pearl opera glasses featuring an extendable side handle. View VIII
Archive IX Pair of brass and mother of pearl opera glasses featuring an extendable side handle. View IX
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Puckerings

Puckerings
Telephone 07853 189 922
Location
London
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/puckerings
Verified Since Jul 2009
Items For Sale 399
Items Sold 7,627
Puckerings
Puckerings
Verified Since Jul 2009
View Dealer Info
Location: London, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/puckerings
Verified
Jul 2009
For Sale
399
Sold
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Pair of brass and mother of pearl opera glasses featuring an extendable side handle.
Antique Opera Glasses - Mother of Pearl c.1900, Signed, Iris, Paris
Ref: SA1134294
Pair of brass and mother of pearl opera glasses featuring an extendable side handle.
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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectOpera Glasses
  • Period1900 - 1920
  • StyleBelle Epoque
  • MaterialBrass, Mother of Pearl, Glass
  • ColourGold
  • MotifsExtendable lorgnette handle, Mother of pearl panelling, Gilded brass frame
  • SizeH 4.4 cm (2 in) x W 12.7 cm (5 in) x D 5.1 cm (2 in)

These antique opera glasses date to the Belle Epoque period around 1900 and stem from France. The pair comprises a gilded brass frame paired with iridescent mother of pearl panelling that catches the light in shades of cream, pink, and silver. Each circular eyepiece holds glass lenses with black rims, connected by a central focusing wheel secured by a small screw. A slender, extendable lorgnette handle projects from the right-hand side, featuring matching cylindrical nacre segments separated by decorative brass rings and terminating in a small spherical finial. The metallic surfaces display a soft antique gold patina with light ageing. The piece measures 4.4 cm high, 12.7 cm wide, and 5.1 cm deep. Ideal for period-inspired interiors, this item sits neatly on a bookshelf or within a glass-fronted cabinet in a study or living room as an authentic decorative accent.

FAQs

Opera glasses are compact, low-power optical magnification devices designed primarily for use at theatrical performances during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Historical examples commonly feature gilded brass or metal frames panelled with natural materials such as mother of pearl, enamel, or tortoiseshell, alongside precision glass lenses.

Authentic period examples often display stamped maker signatures, hand-turned focusing mechanisms, natural iridescence in the shell panelling, and minor surface wear consistent with age.

These small decorative objects function well when styled on a stack of art books, placed within display cabinets, or set atop brass trays on console tables.

Clean gently using a soft, dry microfibre cloth to remove dust, avoiding chemical cleaners or water immersion that could compromise the shell panelling and lens mountings.
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