DESCRIPTION

AN EXTREMELY RARE PAIR

OF

EDWARD SCARLETT

18TH CENTURY WIG/TEMPLE SPECTACLES

NORMALLY ONLY FOUND IN MUSEUM COLLECTIONS

A pair of very rare 18th century, steel, wig spectacles circa 1780, in the pattern of Edward Scarlett.  They have short templings (side arms), designed to secure the spectacles to the wearer's temples with circular grips, enabling them to fit underneath the obligatory wig; which was an absolute must for a fashionable gentleman of this period.

AN EXAMPLE CAN BE VIEWED AT WWW.ANTIQUESPECTACLES.COM , SELECT COLLECTIONS - VIRTUAL MUSEUM COLLECTIONS - TEMPLE SPECTACLES, FROM THE DROP DOWN MENU.  THE EXAMPLE IS ON THE TOP LINE, LISTED AS BEING FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 

Edward Scarlett, London optician to George II, worked in Dean Street, Soho, and is attributed as having created the first spectacles, i.e. the addition of side arms to create spectacles from eyeglasses.

As any serious collector will know Edward Scarlett spectacles are normally only found in museum collections.  

This is a truly rare opportunity to obtain a piece of optical history.

CONDITION

As with all examples I have seen in museums from this period the steel carries corrosion/rust marks (see photo) commensurate with age (over 200 years old).  As one would expect there is some vertical play in the arms and one of the lenses (which look to be original) has a slight chip at its edge.

They could be restored, cleaned and polished, but I have chosen to leave them in their original condition.

DIMENSIONS

Approx. width hinge to hinge:  4.75 inches (11.75 cm)

Approx. diameter of glass:  1.4 inches (3.5 cm)

Approx. length of arm:  4.25 inches (10.5 cm)

Approx. diameter of temple ring:  2 cm

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Shipping

United Kingdom: £2.50 (Royal Mail, First Class, Recorded Delivery)

Rest of World: £6.00 (Item will be securely packaged and sent by Royal Mail International Signed For)

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If you have any questions then please feel free to contact me.

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PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO LOOK AT THE OTHER ITEMS I HAVE FOR SALE - I AM CURRENTLY CLEARING ATTIC AND STORAGE SPACE (LONG TERM PROJECT!) AND WILL BE  LISTING MANY OTHER ITEMS.

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