For Your Viewing Pleasure

Who says that jewelry is only for show? Women who lived around the turn of the 20th century knew that beauty and practicality did not have to be mutually exclusive. Indeed, since their dresses were devoid of pockets, ladies often had to find creative and decorative ways to carry their necessities.

This lorgnette (pictured left) from the early 1900’s is a wonderful example of making a necessity an accessory. A lorgnette is a pair of spectacles held in place by a short, often bejeweled handle. Fashionable ladies preferred lorgnettes to spectacles that fit around the ears, and they were often used more as a piece of jewelry than to see through. The dainty lorgnette pictured here folds up neatly into a pendant, as shown. It is made of platinum and set with diamonds, and actually makes a beautiful necklace when worn on a long chain. This piece is elegant while still being functional, which was exactly the objective.

This trend was not limited to women - men used lorgnettes as well. As one would expect, the lorgnettes designed for fashionable ladies have a lighter, more delicate feel to them, while the men’s versions are typically sturdier and more masculine, like the yellow gold one pictured at right. The platinum versions tend to be more sought after by collectors, and command a higher price on the secondary market. Print this post