Object Number 1952.0005

Object Name

Spectacles (Eyeglasses)

Category

Organic (ivory, horn, etc.)

Credit Line/Donor

Gift of Henry Francis du Pont

Place of Origin

Probably Guangzhou (Canton), China, Asia

Origin Notes

Previously catalogued as England. Updated with research. Dealers may have purchased in New England as imports through the China trade. [AWagner 8/2019]

Date

1800-1850

Materials

Tortoise shell (marine turtle); Paktong

Dimensions (inches)

1.969 (H) , 5.709 (L) , 4.961 (W) , 0.8113 (Weight)

Dimensions (centimeters)

5 (H) , 14.5 (L) , 12.6 (W) , 23 (Weight)

Measurement Notes

Length is of earpiece unextended and height is of lens frame.

Object Description

Web - 12/18/2025

A rare survival, this pair of tortoiseshell folding spectacles were likely made between 1800 and 1850 in Guangzhou, China, for the export market. The large, circular frames are made of tortoiseshell and connected by a square-arched paktong (nickel silver) bridge. The paktong temples have two parts hinged together by three knuckle hinges, allowing them to fold. The ends of side arms have circular tortoiseshell pads, which were made to grasp the wearer’s head securely. The lenses––now missing––were likely made of transparent quartz.

Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes

[Book] Toppler, Joachim. 1988 A Spectacle of Spectacles. 178.
• Similar object: p. 161, fig. Oc108
[Book] Rosenthal, J. William. 1996 Spectacles and Other Vision Aids A History and Guide to Collecting.
• Similar objects: pp. 72-73, figs. 111, 113-114