the treasure
Opera glasses
the story
The opera glasses were my great-Aunt Dorothy’s from the 1920s. Born in 1900, she was a woman of her time and reminded me of Katharine Hepburn. She was very social, had exquisite taste, went to flight school, flew a plane and you never wondered what she thought. She helped raise my dad and his two brothers after their father died when they were young. She was so special to me, and I had the utmost respect for her.
what the professionals say
If you were anybody in high society, you would never chance a trip to the opera without a lorgnette, or opera glasses as we call them today. This pair is particularly nice, beautifully crafted by Lamier Paris from panels of genuine mother of pearl. This style of lorgnette was popular in the 19th century, but it still can catch a fancy collector’s eye at auction, estate sales or antique shops.
the value
Approximately $200-$400 at retail
This month’s expert | Deb Williams of Charterhouse
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