This exquisite antique lorgnette is crafted out of a beautiful mottled brown tortoise shell with nice gold areas that has been carved in a nice shape.

There is a spring-loaded mechanism on the handle that releases the lenses from the center shaft.

There is a loop at the end of the lorgnette so that it can be suspended from a long chain or a silk cord.

The original glass lenses are mounted in 18K yellow gold and there’s a gold cartouche for owner’s initials on the front of the shell shaft.

The gold glasses mounts are hallmarked twice with the Parisian high carat gold hallmark of the Eagle’s head and with the maker’s lozenge.

The quality of the craftsmanship on this piece is superb. The lorgnette was made in the mid to late 1800s and are cased in their original dome shaped etui that is lined in velvet and satin.

The lorgnette is in great condition overall, especially considering its age. Pulling down on the little lever will release the lenses. The lenses stay at a 90° angle to the handle. There is one tiny hairline crack to the tortoiseshell, on the back upper pin. Otherwise the tortoise shell is in excellent shape with no chips and no other cracks. There are no breaks and no repairs. When folded, the lorgnette measures 7,7 cm long.