Clocks, Watches, and Scientific Instruments
England, United Kingdom, Europe
1700-1775
Tortoise shell (marine turtle); Glass; Silver; Brass
Molded
1961.0330
Object Number1961.0330 |
Magnifying glass
Clocks, Watches, and Scientific Instruments
Museum purchase
England, United Kingdom, Europe
1700-1775
Tortoise shell (marine turtle); Glass; Silver; Brass
Molded
0.374 (H) , 2.559 (L) , 4.409 (W) , 2.5045 (Weight)
0.95 (H) , 6.5 (L) , 11.2 (W) , 71 (Weight)
The width given is of the magnifying glass open. The width of the magnifying glass closed is 7.900cm.
In decorative arts, the term "tortoise shell" is commonly used to describe scutes, or plates, of the shell from Hawksbill, Green, or Loggerhead marine turtles. Turtles once flourished in tropical waters in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, with the Tortugas, the Cayman Islands, and the Mosquito Coast all having large populations before they were fished to near extinction. Early objects made from tortoise shell were an ultra-luxury for elite consumers in Europe and Asia. As a raw trade material, “shell” could be 8 to 10 times more costly than elephant tusk ivory during the 1700s. By the early 1800s, tortoise shell was in wide use for merchant-class fashion accessories such as tea caddies, magnifying lens cases, fans, boxes and vanity sets as well as handles on many elegant tools, but especially for lady’s hair combs. Tortoise shell as an artistic material transitioned from rare and exotic to widely-desirable and internationally-produced, and then back to scarcity within two centuries.
This magnifying glass is made of a circular tortoise shell case with a silver rimmed glass that pivots in and out.