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This stylish lady holds a tortoise shell lorgnette. |
Her long chain probably held a lorgnette at the end. |
Corset stays made this wasp-waisted dress possible, and the draping
watch chain highlights her small waist. |
Well-dressed ladies wore "long chains", sometimes looped and
caught on the bodice with a brooch, sometimes worn full length, and often
draped across the entire front of a dress and caught at the belt to be the main ornament. Chains
were made in both precious and non-precious metals, and could be extremely
simple or ornamented with stones and seed pearls. Some had slides, which
have become collectible in their own right. From these chains were suspended
watches or lorgnettes, as well as lockets and other useful implements.
Lorgnettes were made in a wide variety of materials: sterling, karat gold,
gold wash, tortoise, ivory, mother-of-pearl and lovely enameling and
gem stones. Those with a strong design sense (for example Art Nouveau or
Arts & Crafts) are most desirable. Some
collectors have their own prescription mounted into an old lorgnette so that
they are actually useable.
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VICTORIAN Austro-Hungarian rare antique lorgnette with quartz and mother of pearl set
in gold washed metal, illegible hallmark on the loop end, 9-1/2" by 2-1/4"
at the widest. The stones are roughly cut but do have a facet, and the
lorgnette itself is heavy and well made. The glasses pop out when a light
downward pressure is put on the button about 2/3 of the way down the handle.
This is an antique and an elegant accessory from the past!
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View #39416
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VICTORIAN rare
Austro-Hungarian lorgnette of
gold washed silver with enameling, citrines, emeralds and pearls, 5-1/2" by
1-1/4". Tiny mark "800" on the glasses hinge. Circa 1890.
This is the same piece seen in Christie Romero’s book, "Warman’s Jewelry, 3rd Ed,
on page 116.
It also was featured in Southeastern Antiquing &
Collecting Magazine, August 2003. This is an antique and an elegant
accessory from the past!
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#L13478
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LORGNETTE sterling, marcasites and pearl lorgnette pendant, possibly in the shape of a
very stylized fish. It is
beautifully decorated with marcasites and a single pearl, and even the
lenses have an embossed design around each glass, both front and back. When
closed, the lorgnette portion is 2-3/4" by 1-1/4". The chain is 18" long and
it has alternating open long oval links with a filigree scroll in the middle
and figure-8 links, dainty and lovely and perhaps hand made. The back
has an open cartouche ready for your own initials. The lenses come out when
you tug gently on the chain end of the lorgnette itself. The correction in
the glasses seems to be to be only a magnifier, not a corrective lens. In
excellent condition, and with lenses that pop out in a curved position for
comfortable wear. I would think these were made circa 1910.
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View #V39342 |
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VICTORIAN 14K
antique
gold lorgnette with engraved initials "SRT" and fleur-de-lis and dot motif,
5-5/8" View
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View #a27895 |
VICTORIAN
antique
matte finished gold tone lorgnette with a beautifully wrought thistle
and leaves design and a loop on the end for hanging, 5"
by 1-1/4". The lenses, spring and body of this lovely antique are all
in excellent condition.
View
View #Q28888 |
LORGNETTE antique 10k yellow
gold lorgnette, engraved with initials "BHS" on one side, 4" by
1-1/4". The cartouche is surrounded by scrolls and leaves, a
wonderful deeply made design, and the same on both sides. It has a tiny
maker’s mark towards the top on both sides< too, and it seems to be the
letters "JHP" run together. There’s a loop at the bottom so this can be
worn on a chain. The glass lenses are scratched, but the spring and the
body of this lorgnette are both in excellent vintage condition.
View
View #Q28586 |
ARTS
& CRAFTS antique silver lorgnette. It is marked "800" on the
loop, which is a silver mark used in Germany and a few other countries.. It is 6" by 1-1/4", circa 1910. This is the
exact same piece seen in Christie
Romero’s book, "Warman’s Jewelry, 3rd Ed, page 102. The spring
functions perfectly and other than some light scratching from years of wear
and visible only upon close examination, the body in in very good condition.
View
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#V17643 |
LORGNETTE
antique sterling Art Nouveau Iris motif lorgnette, circa 1900,
3-3/4" lorgnette with anchor mark and on a 38" black ribbon.
View #V24986
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UNGER BROTHERS antique sterling Art Nouveau Iris motif lorgnette, circa 1900, 5" by 1-1/4".
Marked inside under the Iris. Will not open without a bit of help, as the
spring is broken. See "Jewelry & Metalwork in the Arts & Crafts Tradition" by Karlin, page
166.
View
View #V20909
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NIELLO silver
lorgnette in the lovely silver and black checked design, 5-5/8" by 1-1/4".The
spring works, but it needs a bit of encouragement to open. The lenses and
the body are in excellent vintage condition.
View View
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View #a28948
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NIELLO rare sterling finger
chatelaine and lorgnette, an unusual matching set. Niello is,
according to Dictionary.com, "a black metallic substance, consisting of
silver, copper, lead, and sulfur, with which an incised design or ground is
filled to produce an ornamental effect on metal". It creates a
wonderful design of, in this case, tiny checks. It includes a 4-1/2" chain with 2-1/2" pencil, 2-1/3" knife & glove hook,
1-5/8" notepad with paper, 1-1/2" compact, hooks marked 800S.
The lorgnette is 5-5/8" by 1-1/4" and while the spring works, it needs a bit
of encouragement. The lens and body are in excellent condition. The
notebook is missing it’s tiny pencil, but there are penciled notes inside,
one saying "Sandusky, Ohio". These tools and accessories are all in excellent vintage condition,
even the mirror inside the compact, except for a shallow dent on the back of
the compact.
#a28041 |
STERLING and coral cameo
lorgnette, ornately embossed floral motif with a poppy on the reverse, shallow dent on handle,
glasses have one break in frame, 5-1/3" by 1-1/3".
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View #A28049
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VICTORIAN gold filled lorgnette with etched and beaded design and faceted
edges, 4" closed with original box. It opens with a gentle pull on the little
ball towards the bottom. View
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View #V33609
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PORTRAIT of a lady with her lorgnette,
hand painted on ivory circa 1870.
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View #a31889 |
LORGNETTE marcasite lorgnette fold out eye glasses set in silver tone,
closed size 2-1/3" by 1", extended size 6-1/3".
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View #V37393 |
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KREMENTZ sterling floral lorgnette,
slight dings, engraved with initials "TFV", spring does not open
automatically, circa 1900.
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View #Q28890 |
KREMENTZ sterling floral lorgnette,
slight dings, engraved with initials "TFV", spring does not open
automatically, circa 1900.
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View #Q28890 |
LORGNETTE Victorian
sterling lorgnette with scroll design, initial "B" engraved on one side, 5".
View
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View #a27837 |
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LORGNETTE
sterling lorgnette initialed "MH", 5-3/4".
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View #V25873 |
UNGER
sterling lady face lorgnette, circa 1900, 4-3/4" by 1-1/2". This is the
same piece seen in
Christie Romero’s book, "Warman’s Jewelry", 3rd Ed, page 112.
View
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#V14745 |
VICTORIAN sterling lorgnette with embossed wild roses and leaves, 5".
View
View #Q28019 |
LORGNETTE
sterling with flower motif, circa 1900, 5-1/3" by 1-1/4".
(Seen in Christie Romero’s "Warman’s Jewelry, 3rd Ed, page 112.)
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#V4619 |
Heart pins, sterling silver initials, lorgnette. Priced in the
catalogue from $ .25 to $5.00 each.
Daniel Low Catalogue, 1901 |
LORGNETTE H. A. Kirby
Company, Providence Rhode Island sterling lorgnette, 5" by 1-1/4" with
54" chain, marked inside.
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#Q32418 |
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VICTORIAN sterling lorgnette with lovely embossed designs of scrolls and ferns and a
4-1/2" long body. It doesn’t spring open all the way, but it is 1.7
ounces total weight so a bit heavier than usual. The lens has some scratches, so
it’s priced as-is.
This lovely accessory is Victorian and circa 1880.
View
View #V34386 |
UNGER Brothers sterling Art Nouveau violets lorgnette with embossed violets
and leaves design, engraved on the back "MFS" or "L", 5" long
and about 1.29 total weight. It is marked for Unger Brothers inside the
case. It’s a bit slow to open, but it does stay in place once it is
opened. It seems to be a magnifier with no other correction, and one
lens has light scratching. Unger Brothers was an American company
based in New Jersey, and they began business in the late 1870s.
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View #V34227 |
VICTORIAN gun metal
lorgnette chain with unfoiled clear paste (rhinestone) stations, circa 1880,
58" a great length because it can be worn long or doubled.
View #V36420 |
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LORGNETTE sterling
lorgnette with corn leaf motif, engraved "MVS", 5" long, circa 1900.
View
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View #Q28110 |
LORGNETTE sterling
with rose at the top of the handle.
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#V21452 |
LORGNETTE Art Nouveau sterling lorgnette, one small shallow dimple on
one side, circa 1910, 5". #V51007
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STERLING silver lorgnette
with embossed Art Nouveau iris floral and leaves design, engraved initials on one side "DWC",
circa 1910, 5-1/8". Gracefully designed and elegant.
View
View #Q28432
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FRENCH sterling and
marcasites lorgnette pendant, hallmarked and "RKE,12530", green leather case
lined with velvet, pushing top unhooks glasses so they spring out, closed
2-1/2", open 5-1/2". View
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View #V31738 |
LORGNETTE marked "T&P
sterling", filigree, 3-1/2" closed, 5-1/2" open.
View #V23429
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LORGNETTE gold tone quizzing
glass with lovely flowers and scroll designs, 2-5/8" and 1-1/4".
View #a35961
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VICTORIAN cabinet
card of a lady wearing a lorgnette on a chain, a small pearls strung on
white horsehair brooch and a bracelet with a heart lock, 4-1/4" by 6-1/2". #Vnph1 |
VICTORIAN yellow gold
filled watch slide chain with three tiny opals, circa 1900, marked inside
hook, 50". Slide chains like this can be seen in this
Daniel Low & Co. Catalogue, 1901. Here
is a
vintage photo illustrating one way this could be worn, and
here is another way to wear it, and
another. No wonder these
versatile chains are so popular.
View
View #V33250 |
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UNGER BROTHERS sterling Art Nouveau Iris motif lorgnette, circa 1900, 5"
by 1-1/4" and about 1.28 ounces. Marked inside under the Iris. It will not open without a bit of
help, as the opening spring is broken, but it does close with a click and
stay closed. There is a small chip in one of the lenses. See "Jewelry & Metalwork in the Arts & Crafts Tradition" by Karlin, page 166
for a very similar lorgnette.
View
View #V36419 |
VICTORIAN
fold-out glasses, 3-1/4" long when closed, 5-1/4" when open, and each
lens is 1-1/3" by 1". These could be worn as a pendant on a
ribbon or a chain, or hung from a brooch fitted for them, and some of my
customers have had theirs fitted with their own prescription.
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#V39927 |
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VICTORIAN sterling
spectacles chatelaine, engraved "MJF"?, hallmarked Levi & Salaman,
Birmingham 1910, case 6-1/3" by 1-1/2", chains 3-3/4", clip 2-1/3".
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View #V31736 |
VICTORIAN sterling overlaid
over leather spectacles chatelaine, hallmarked Samuel Jacobs, Birmingham
1897, case 6-1/2" by 1-1/2", chains 3-1/3", clip 2-3/4". Embossed and
pierced with an unusual design of daffodils, berries and roses
View
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View #V31737 |
CHATELAINE glasses case
with sterling fittings, case leather lined with velvet, 6-1/4" by 1-1/2",
chatelaine pin 1-5/8", chains 3". Marked on the back of the pin, "sterling,
927" and illegible hallmark.
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View #V31458 |
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LORGNETTE silver spring
loaded 5" lorgnette in original leather case .
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View #a27846 |
CHATELAINE sterling "lion-e" hallmarked 6" eyeglasses case on
chatelaine hook with a 5" chain, circa 1890. See Romero’s
"Warman’s Jewelry, Ed. 2" page 59.
View View
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View #Q24987 |
VICTORIAN tortoise lorgnette
with inlaid gold colored plaque, 6".
View #a17184
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VICTORIAN mother-of-pearl lorgnette marked "MR 25" 4-3/4".
View #V28794
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R. BLACKINTON & Company sterling glasses case and pince nez glasses with
the initials "CJM" on the front and an absolutely beautiful design of
flowers and scrolls on both the front and the back. It is marked "sterling
2721" on the inside lower rim, as well as a maker’s mark for R. Blackinton &
Company, 4-1/4" by 1-7/8". The lining is a dark purple-brown color and it
shows wear, but the case itself is in excellent condition and it snaps shut
easily. The total weight of the container minus the glasses is 2.24 ounces.
I have read that this company operated for over 100 years, from about
1862-1967, and the pieces I have had by them were all extremely well done.
It was founded by Walter Ballou and Roswell Blackinton in Maine.
View
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View #V39757
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LORGNETTE
mother-of-pearl lorgnette with chain attached to hair pin, circa 1920. The
hair pin would have secure the "specs" so that they would not fall off.
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VICTORIAN gold colored
flip-out lorgnette with hand etched scrolls and floral decorative ball,
finger pull to open, brown leather case "Schulen & Boby, watchmakers &
jewelers, Ipswich", 3-1/2" closed, open 5-1/8".
View
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View #V31739 |
EDWARDIAN wire rimmed
granny spectacles, gold tone, 4-1/4" from side to side, 5-1/4" sides with
small loops behind the ears. #V31742 |
SPECS "Shor-On" 1/10th
12k" yellow gold gold glasses, 4-1/2" side-to-side, with case "C. Davis,
47, Wigmore Street, W.1."
View #a31807 |
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LORGNETTE gold tone flower and leave motif lorgnette with very unusual
tinted lens, no signature or marks, circa 1930,
View
View #L26842 |
EDWARDIAN BAB & Co Inc.
yellow gold filled fine weight lorgnette chain with
clasp, 27" with a 4" drop. "Keystone 1919" page 12 shows this mark as B.A. Ballou & Co., 61 Peck St,
Providence, specialized in eye glass chains, founded 1868-present.
View
View #V33786 |
LORGNETTE flip-open marked
"Lugene FK" with a golden flower motif, 2-5/8".
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#V13384 |
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LORGNETTE
folding clip style with marcasites, flower motif, 2-1/2" clip.
View
View #V5163 |
LORGNETTE silver flip out clip with marcasites, 2-1/4".
View
View #A26175 |
LORGNETTE folding
clip style with marcasites in a basket design, 2-1/8" clip with no glass
lens.
View
View #V5160 |
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GWC
sterling silver lorgnette chain, 50" in length and marked "GWC" and
"sterling" on the hook.
View #Q35944 |
STERLING
silver lorgnette chain with swivel hook, 48" and marked "Sterling"
inside the hook.
View #V40823 |
STERLING silver lorgnette chain with hook on one end, 60" and weighs 1.2
ounces. This has a hard to read partial "925" mark inside the hook.
View #V36995 |
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LORGNETTE tortoise-colored
lorgnette with gold inlaid plaque engraved with the initials "CPH", 3
inches long.
View #V10130 |
Lorgnette ad |
PINCE NEZ
gold filled pince nez marked "patn ’17", 4" long. #G25844 |
LORGNETTE fold out lorgnette with tortoise colored handle, 5" long with
a 1-1/2" lens. This would have been hung on a chain or ribbon around the
neck. View #Q35962 |
LORGNETTE gold tone quizzing
glass, 4-1/2" and 1-1/2" circle. This would have been hung on a chain or
ribbon around the neck. View
#a35960 |
LORGNETTE gold
tone lorgnette, 4-1/4" by 1-1/2". This would have been hung on a chain or
ribbon around the neck. View
#a35963 |
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VICTORIAN 14k yellow gold shortened
long chain, tests 14K no marks, length 32", wt .44oz. #V34441 |
EDWARDIAN slide chain
in 14k yellow gold with diamond heart slide with prong set diamond,
extra long at 49".
View #Q62727 |
VICTORIAN JFSS opal and seed
pearl slide chain, gold filled, 30".
View #V34717
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VICTORIAN
lorgnette gold washed sterling chain, 60". #Q28839 |
VICTORIAN F&B sterling
lorgnette with clear rhinestones, signed on the nose piece, 3-1/2". F&B or
Foster & Bailey was a Providence, Rhode Island, company circa 1878-1898.
View
View #V33998 |
EDWARDIAN HB Co gold tone lorgnette chain with seed pearl slide. The
chain is 24" long and the slide is 1/2" by 1/3". This is in
good vintage condition and circa 1910.
View #Q39294 |
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LORGNETTE long chain, F&C Co gold 48" chain with 1/3" seed pearl slide.
View #Q25386
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VICTORIAN carte de visite of
a lady wearing delicate earrings, a bull’s eye brooch, bog oak beads, a
long chain and a ring. Marked on the front, "G.&R. Lavis, 135
Regent Street W.", 2-1/2" by 4".
View #Vkph40 |
14K YELLOW GOLD lorgnette chain,
18" with 2-3/4" Y, marked 14k inside hook, circa 1900.
View #Q28145 |
PINCE NEZ eye glasses on a
black string tied and worn like a slide chain, 3-1/4" by 4-1/3" oval. .
View |
EDWARDIAN yellow gold filled
watch long chain with slide, marked "10k" inside hook, 49" long with a 1/3"
slide with tiny pearl center.
View View #Q32828 |
LORGNETTE chain with stations
of clear unfoiled rhinestones, total 50".
View #Q17092 |
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VICTORIAN 9 carat yellow gold
lorgnette or long chain with lovely design figure-8 links and filigree stations, 56"
length, weight about .96 oz or 22.70 grams.
View #V35765 |
VICTORIAN 14k yellow gold long chain
or lorgnette chain, tests 14K but has no marks, length 32", weight approximately
12.659 grams. This has been shortened at some time and you can only feel the
joint with your fingers. #V34441 |
VICTORIAN 9 carat yellow
gold English lorgnette chain with beautifully faceted links, marked "9ct"on
clip on chain end link, 60" long and about 27.448 grams
View
#V35766 |
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STERLING European hallmarked necklace
for a lorgnette with a silver tone lady profile
fob, necklace 24" with 1" Y, lady 1-1/4".
View
View
View #N33807 |
VICTORIAN 10 karat
yellow gold muff or lorgnette chain, marked 10ct on the chain and 9ct on
the hook, a nice long 64" and about 3/16" wide. Each link is a
faceted and interlocked figure-8 design and every few inches the design
changes to a lacy faceted ball-like link, approximately 1.25 ounces.
View
#V35243 |
DECO gold tone slide and chain with Scottish style plaid design in
blue, green, burgundy and white enamel and an opal center, chain is 48"
and the slide is 5/8", hook marked "1/20 12k" for gold filled.
View
View #Q37710 |
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EDWARDIAN seed pearl heart slide on a long lorgnette chain in gold tone,
24" chain and 5/16" slide. Inside the hook is the mark "_S& CO".
View #V38437 |
"Fine rolled gold plate guard chains."
Roddin Jewelry Catalogue |
VICTORIAN sterling lorgnette chain, 60" and weighs 1.2 ounces.
View #V36995 |
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VICTORIAN yellow gold filled lorgnette or long chain with the
maker’s mark "T.W.B." on the hook, 54" long and 1/8" wide, fun and
versatile to wear.
View
View
View
View #V36390 |
VICTORIAN 9ct yellow gold lorgnette or muff chain with star pierced stations and
faceted
links, tests 9ct, 61" long, weight .70 ozs.
View #V37858 $498.00
home 9/19 ~ keep Scrap $268.00 |
EDWARDIAN BAB & Co Inc.
yellow gold filled fine weight lorgnette chain with
clasp, 27" with a 4" drop. "Keystone 1919" page 12 shows this mark as B.A. Ballou & Co., 61 Peck St,
Providence, specialized in eye glass chains, founded 1868-present.
View
View #V33786 |
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VICTORIAN 9ct yellow gold chain .27 ozs maker’s mark "CDB" and
"9ct" on the hook and tests as 9 ct, 19-1/2".
View
#V38320 |
WATCH or lorgnette chain in gold tone, total length 40". The slide runs
up and down one chain only, not both as is usually seen. It has a swivel
hook on one end and an unusual c-shaped slide-through on the other.
View
View
View #Q66587 |
VICTORIAN 9 carat yellow
gold English lorgnette chain with beautifully faceted links, marked
"9ct"on clip on chain end link, 60" long and about 27.448 grams or .017
ounces.
View
#V35766 |
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