Late 19th Century Victorian 10k Gold Hand-Engraved Lorgnette

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Circa the Victorian era, this 10k gold lorgnette has beautiful hand-engraved details and a decorative element reminiscent of a lyre. … Read more Circa the Victorian era, this 10k gold lorgnette has beautiful hand-engraved details and a decorative element reminiscent of a lyre. A lorgnette is a pair of spectacles that can be folded in half and worn as jewelry on a chain or chatelaine. The lorgnette dates back to the 1780’s and was popular throughout the Georgian and Victorian eras, when it was worn by fashionable women at high society events like the theatre or opera. The name “lorgnette” was derived from the French word “lorgner” which means “to take a sidelong look”. In contemporary fashion, they can be worn on chains as pendants, and look great as the bottom piece in a chain stack. This pair has lovely hand-engraved details, with a lyre along the side of the frames that leads to a large ring that can be used as a bail. It has carved details along the centerpiece as well, which pivots to fold in half at the center. It has slight magnification, so it can be used as a unique, functional piece of jewelry.

The lorgnette measures 4 3/4” x 1” when open and 3 7/16” x 1” when closed. It weighs 13.5 grams. It is unmarked and has been X-ray tested to be 10k gold. See less