{"product_id":"antique-victorian-simulated-tortoiseshell-62339","title":"Victorian Tortoiseshell Metamorphic Lorgnette Folding Spectacles","description":"\u003cp\u003eCirca 1890, an enchanting Victorian metamorphic lorgnette, beautifully crafted in rich tortoiseshell with elegant rolled gold fittings. Designed to transform effortlessly from a slim, fan-like accessory into a fully functional pair of spectacles, this ingenious piece perfectly captures the elegance and ingenuity of the Victorian era.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lorgnette is exceptionally well made, featuring a satisfyingly engineered spring-loaded mechanism. A gentle press of the discreet button releases the spectacles, which open smoothly into position, while folding them away again produces a reassuring click as they lock neatly back into their compact form. Ingenious and wonderfully tactile, it is easy to understand why these transformative accessories fascinated Victorian society. When closed, they resemble a refined decorative fan, making them every bit as fashionable as they were practical.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe beautifully figured tortoiseshell shell displays rich chocolate tones, complemented by rolled gold mounts and a generous oval suspension ring, making the lorgnette ideal for wearing from a long Victorian guard chain. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen folded, the lorgnette measures 15 cm (5⅞ inches) in length. Fully opened, the spectacles span 12 cm (4¾ inches), with clear oval glass lenses measuring 34 × 25 mm. Reassuringly weighty in the hand at 27.3 grams, it has the quality feel one hopes for in a well-made Victorian accessory.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lorgnette remains in very good antique condition, with only light surface wear to the natural tortoiseshell and an attractive mellow aged patina to the rolled gold fittings, entirely consistent with its age. The lenses remain clear and free from scratches, and the folding mechanism operates beautifully.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe word \u003cem\u003elorgnette \u003c\/em\u003ederives from the French \u003cem\u003elorgner\u003c\/em\u003e, meaning \"to take a sidelong glance.\" During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, these elegant accessories became indispensable companions for fashionable ladies and gentlemen at the opera, theatre and society gatherings, where they served as much to observe others as to improve one's own vision.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA wonderful marriage of fashion, engineering and Victorian ingenuity, this metamorphic lorgnette is far more than a pair of spectacles—it is a wearable piece of social history that continues to delight every time it transforms in your hand.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mercy Madge","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56358237208955,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0301\/3256\/8203\/files\/il_fullxfull.8365843345_hzj1.jpg?v=1785423625","url":"https:\/\/mercymadge.com\/fr\/products\/antique-victorian-simulated-tortoiseshell-62339","provider":"Mercy Madge ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}