Description: A pair of lacquered brass and enamel handled opera glasses. The enamel is hand painted with busts of women, blue beads, stars and flowers. The eyepieces and adjustment wheel are mother of pearl and hallmarked with, "CHAVANCE & CO PARIS". "MADE IN FRANCE" stamped on frame.


History: Opera glasses, also known as theater binoculars or Galilean binoculars, are compact, low-power optical magnification devices, usually used at performance events, whose name is derived from traditional use at opera performances. Magnification power below 5x— is usually desired in these circumstances in order to minimize image shake and maintain a large enough field of view. A magnification of 3x is normally recommended. The design of many modern opera glasses of the ornamental variety is based on the popular lorgnettes of the 19th century.

Provenance: FL Estate


Dimensions: Weight (Pounds & Ounces) = 0.625 | Height(in) = 2.5 | Width(in) = 4 | Depth(in) = 1.5

Size of Artwork(in): 2.5 x 4 x 1.5"


Artist Name: Chavance & Co, Paris


Medium: Brass, enamel, Mop


Circa: Circa 1900

Good working condition with clear lenses. The brass frame has small scratches and tarnish. Some paint loss on rims of field lenses. Two tiny areas of enamel chipped on handle.