Julien Buffet, spectacle-maker, active in Paris between 1842 - Lot 58

Julien Buffet, spectacle-maker, active in Paris between 1842 and 1878 18K 750-thousandth yellow gold retractable hand-face with pivoting hinge, hallmarked with eagle heads, the violin-shaped case decorated with tortoiseshell veneer surrounded by a chased gold border, the pair of rectangular, soft-edged gold spectacles set with an oval cartouche finely engraved with scrolls and floral motifs, with a small push-button at the base to open the face-to-face, finished with a double oval suspension ring, unmarked (small chip missing). Mid-19th century Master stamp Height: 7 cm Gross weight : 21,38 gr Literature: Around 1880, these system hand faces were very fashionable for women, who generally hung them from a chain or sautoir. They served both as a reading aid and as an ornamental object to be unfolded when needed. From the same eyewear manufacturer, see optical jewelry, ornaments and jewelry in the collections of the national museums of the Châteaux de Malmaison and Compiègne.