Search 0
67,003  PAGES BROWSED TODAY PAGES TODAY • 170 ANTIQUES UPLOADED TODAYNEW ARRIVALS
Sorted by
Per page
JOIN AS A SELLER DEALER LOGIN
Selling Antiques Logo
0
Saved
GIFTS
170 ITEMS ADDED TODAY
Home
Return
Dealer Login
500+ Shops
Dealers
Newly Added
0
Saved
Antiques dealer?
Join as a Seller
Sort Order
Items Per Page
sellingantiques.co.uk
Browse Categories
Sort order
Relevant Links
Items per page
ID #SA1239080
FOR SALE
£350
Email Phone Buy
Save
Large English Antique Brass Desk Magnifying Glass / Paperweight - Optimus Lens
For sale by Puckerings
for sale €410     $445
£350
Puckerings

Puckerings

Sellingantiques Verified Since Jul 2009
Browse dealers 398 items
  • About Us
    A quality online collection of fine english antique smalls with free worldwide shipping from london, england
Relevant Links
Id #SA1239080
PDF SHARE
SAVE

Large English Antique Brass Desk Magnifying Glass / Paperweight - Optimus Lens

1900 - 1920
For Sale by Puckerings
Description

Always very popular and a very useful desk-top accessory. These large circular magnifiers actually are the condenser or magnifier from a Magic Lantern dating to around 1910; they are rescued, polished up and put back to use in the modern day.

This one is made from polished brass and engraved Optimus, the best of this type of lens and always desirable to have on the side of the condenser.

Wonderful condition, with a good magnification and a hefty piece to keep those papers in place. 4 1/4" in diameter x 2" high.

Item: 44399

FREE Worldwide Registered Airmail Directly From the UK

Physical Dimensions
Height
5.1cm (2.01")
Width
10.8cm (4.25")
Depth
10.8cm (4.25")
Declaration

Puckerings has dated this Brass Desk Magnifying Glass to the 1910s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1239080
Dealers Internal Reference
44339
Dealers Notes

FREE Worldwide Shipping Directly From London, England

Description
Always very popular and a very useful desk-top accessory.
“
These large circular magnifiers actually are the condenser or magnifier from a Magic Lantern dating to around 1910; they are rescued, polished up and put back to use in the modern day.
Puckerings
fig 1. A cylindrical brass-bound magnifying glass paperweight engraved with the name Optimus around its base.
fig 1. Large English Antique Brass Desk Magnifying Glass / Paperweight - Optimus Lens

This one is made from polished brass and engraved Optimus, the best of this type of lens and always desirable to have on the side of the condenser.

Wonderful condition, with a good magnification and a hefty piece to keep those papers in place. 4 1/4" in diameter x 2" high.

Item: 44399

FREE Worldwide Registered Airmail Directly From the UK

Height
5.1cm (2.01")
Width
10.8cm (4.25")
Depth
10.8cm (4.25")
Date of Manufacture

Puckerings has dated this Brass Desk Magnifying Glass to the 1910s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1239080
Dealers Internal Ref
44339
Puckerings
Puckerings
Sellingantiques verified Since Jul 2009

A quality online collection of fine english antique smalls with free worldwide shipping from london, england

Dealer Profile

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

PDF SHARE
SAVE
A cylindrical brass-bound magnifying glass paperweight engraved with the name Optimus around its base.
1 / 7
Archive I A cylindrical brass-bound magnifying glass paperweight engraved with the name Optimus around its base.

Large English Antique Brass Desk Magnifying Glass / Paperweight - Optimus Lens

Archive II A cylindrical brass-bound magnifying glass paperweight engraved with the name Optimus around its base. View II
Archive III A cylindrical brass-bound magnifying glass paperweight engraved with the name Optimus around its base. View III
Archive IV A cylindrical brass-bound magnifying glass paperweight engraved with the name Optimus around its base. View IV
Archive V A cylindrical brass-bound magnifying glass paperweight engraved with the name Optimus around its base. View V
Archive VI A cylindrical brass-bound magnifying glass paperweight engraved with the name Optimus around its base. View VI
Archive VII A cylindrical brass-bound magnifying glass paperweight engraved with the name Optimus around its base. View VII
FURTHER BROWSING

Visitors also looked at these ⇣

Enlarged Archival View
Puckerings

Puckerings
Telephone 07853 189 922
Location
London
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/puckerings
Verified Since Jul 2009
Items For Sale 398
Items Sold 7,611
Puckerings
Puckerings
Verified Since Jul 2009
View Dealer Info
Location: London, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/puckerings
Verified
Jul 2009
For Sale
398
Sold
7,611
A cylindrical brass-bound magnifying glass paperweight engraved with the name Optimus around its base.
Large English Antique Brass Desk Magnifying Glass / Paperweight - Optimus Lens
Ref: SA1239080
A cylindrical brass-bound magnifying glass paperweight engraved with the name Optimus around its base.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Detail View 5
Detail View 6
Archival Detail

Strictly Vetted Dealers

Every single antique dealer on our platform is individually approved by our internal team. We verify their professional trade history, ethical standards, and photographic quality to ensure a secure, high-standard buying environment. Upon joining, every dealer agrees to a strict 9-point code of conduct. While issues can occasionally arise, our dealers typically resolve them swiftly and directly with the buyer. In fact, since our founding in 2002, Sellingantiques has only had to step in to help resolve an issue on roughly five occasions—a true testament to the quality of our dealers and their dedication to your happiness.

Secure Transit

Our dealers are highly experienced in packing and shipping fragile, high-value antiques. Because you are in direct contact with the dealer, you will be able to easily go through all available shipping and insurance options together to ensure your item arrives safely.

The Sustainable Choice

Antiques are the ultimate green purchase. By choosing historical pieces over newly manufactured goods, you completely eliminate the carbon footprint of modern mass production while preserving exceptional, timeless craftsmanship.

Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectDesk Accessories
  • Period1900 - 1920
  • StyleVictorian
  • MaterialBrass, Glass
  • ColourWarm Brass
  • MotifsEngraved lettering, Cylindrical brass collar, Convex optic lens
  • SizeH 5.1 cm (2 in) x W 10.8 cm (4 in) x D 10.8 cm (4 in)

This Victorian desk accessory is a large circular magnifier and paperweight fashioned from a salvaged magic lantern condenser lens dated to around 1910. The piece comprises a polished warm brass cylindrical collar with a milled moulding detail beneath the rim, set with engraved capital letters spelling Optimus around the side and topped by a heavy convex glass optic lens. It measures 5.1 cm high, 10.8 cm wide, and 10.8 cm deep. Suitable for use in a gentleman's library or home office, this substantial item functions practically both as a working desk magnifying glass and as a paperweight to hold down documents. The polished brass surface exhibits minor natural wear consistent with an antique rescued item while retaining its reflective sheen and clear glass magnification.

FAQs

A desk magnifying glass paperweight is a functional study accessory designed to secure loose papers while providing optical magnification for examining fine print or detailed documents.

These items typically feature thick convex optical glass lenses housed within solid turned or cast brass rims to ensure both durability and substantial weight.

Authentic pieces often feature stamped or engraved maker marks, precise hand-finished metal joints, natural surface oxidisation, and heavy optical glass rather than modern acrylics.

Position the magnifier atop a stack of hardback books, alongside stationery on an office desk, or within a curated shelf display in a study.

Clean the optical glass with a soft microfibre cloth and dedicated glass cleaner, while gently wiping the brass casing with a dry cloth to preserve its natural patina.
items
Add keywords to the filter
Price
£100
£250000
Era
Period
Style
Material
Origin
Stock Location
Recently Added
Online Payments
Categories