19thC. Elliott Brothers London English Leather Opera Glasses

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Handsome pair of antique English leather clad opera glasses from the distinguished Elliott Brothers Opticians, 449 Strand, London England. A … Read more Handsome pair of antique English leather clad opera glasses from the distinguished Elliott Brothers Opticians, 449 Strand, London England. A lovely decorative accent for a tablescape, bookcase, or entry table.

The firm was founded in 1804 by William Elliott, father to Frederick & Charles (the Elliott Brothers). In 1850, the younger men joined the firm, the product line was expanded beyond optical instruments, and upon their father's death in 1853, they renamed the company "Elliott Brothers". First mention of the 449 Strand location that we could find was 1867 and, in 1892, it appears that they had relocated to another site. so we believe these binoculars were manufactured between those two dates -- 1867-1892. In 1902, the company was granted a Royal Warrant from King Edward VII . They continued to expand and operate under other various names well into the 1960s. They were a major force in technological advancement in the UK for a century and a half.

These opera glasses appear to be fully functional and the body of the piece is in excellent antique condition. The barrels' leather coverings are intact but the finish is distressed; not surprising after as much as 150 years of enjoyment.

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