What is the most common type?

The English brass desk magnifier that doubles as a paperweight. Desk appears in 49 titles, paperweight in 43, brass desk in 42. The phrasing repeats across dozens of listings, usually with a date around 1900 to 1920.

Which makers turn up on these?

Almost none, as a category-wide name. The firm names that do appear in titles surface once or twice each, and no single maker runs through the archive. What you get instead are patents and registrations: Patent 1911, Reg. 1894, a Webber patent. That's the closest thing here to a datable signature.

How old are most of them?

The dated field spans 1800 to 1950, and 149 of 216 listings carry a clean year. The bulk fall in the 1900s and 1910s, 43 and 49 listings, with the 1890s and 1920s behind them. A few sampled pieces are put at the 18th century, and one at around 1950, but they stand apart from the mass.

Are non-British examples common?

Not really. Half the archive is labelled English. Non-British origins barely surface in the samples: a few French pieces, one desk glass made in Paris, and a single American folding reader.

What handle materials do you see?

Shell, horn and antler are commoner than you'd expect. Mother of pearl alone runs to 19 titles. The samples add stag horn, antler, abalone, agate, amethyst, Irish bog oak, jade and tortoiseshell, alongside the plainer rosewood and mahogany handles.

How many come up for sale each year?

Around 19 a year on Sellingantiques, spread across 30 dealers. That spread means no single dealer defines the category, and the same brass desk form arrives from several of them.

Search 0

9,852 PAGES BROWSED TODAY PAGES TODAY • 16 ANTIQUES UPLOADED TODAYNEW ARRIVALS

Sorted by

Per page

VISITOR LOGIN JOIN AS A SELLER DEALER LOGIN

0

Saved

GIFTS

Magnifying Glasses

16 ITEMS ADDED TODAY

Visitor Login (saved items)

Sort Order

Items Per Page

Antique Magnifying Glasses

18 items · page 2 of 2

← Page 2 of 2 →

A mounted lens for reading and close work: brass desk glasses that double as paperweights, handled reading glasses in shell, horn and hardwood, and small folding loupes for the pocket.

Rare Antique English Mammoth Map Magnifying Glass C.1930

1920 - 1940

Save

Rare Antique English Mammoth Map Magnifying Glass C.1930

From Puckerings

£1,395

FOR SALE

miscellaneous

Unusual Folding / Adjustable Magnifying Glass - Webber Patent C.1900

1900 - 1920

Save

Unusual Folding / Adjustable Magnifying Glass - Webber Patent C.1900

From Puckerings

£395

FOR SALE

miscellaneous

← 1 2 →

65,690

Antiques For Sale

16

Antiques Approved Today

653

Antique Uploads This Month

445,886

Total Antiques Sold

Antique Magnifying Glasses

Rare Antique English Mammoth Map Magnifying Glass C.1930

Unusual Folding / Adjustable Magnifying Glass - Webber Patent C.1900

Add keywords to the filter

Price

Era

Period

Style

Material

Origin

Stock Location

Recently Added

Online Payments

Categories