Description

1835-80 Oval Large Eyeglass frame is available in two metal finishes: shown on the left is the Tombstone Silver Dust and on the right is the Virginia City Gold Dust

1835-80 Oval Large Eyeglass frame

Incuded with purchase is 1800s Slip in Case and Micro Fiber Wipe with our Historic EyeWear Company logo.

THE HISTORY BEHIND THE STYLE

Although oval shaped spectacles were available from the beginning of the 1800s, the oval shaped spectacles combined with the narrow loop-slide temple appear about 1835-1836 and their popularity continued through the 1880s and beyond.

These frames were made by hand on an individual basis by spectacle makers who could spend the better part of a day constructing each pair. The slide temple was designed as a one-size-fits-all temple, and when retracted, allowed for a smaller, easier to carry and store spectacle case. No primary source information has been found, but many original spectacles have been found with cord or ribbon tied through the teardrop finals to suggest some use for keeping the spectacles in place.

Abraham Lincoln was the most prominent wearer of this spectacle style.

~Our period correct 1800s Black Faux Leather Slip- in case is included with your frame purchase. It is also available for purchase separately for those who need a protective case for their antique eyewear. Available on a short version for Slide temple spectacle and in long version for one piece straight temple spectacles- like our 1855-95 Blue Steel spectacle frame.

~Keep your specs clean with our Historic EyeWear Company micro fiber cleaning cloth which is included with each purchase of spectacle frames. Using paper, tissues or other means might scratch your lenses. Our cloths are soft and do not scratch lenses.

Technical details:

Loop slide temple, teardrop finial, crank or English style bridge, no nose-pads

Sizes are listed in Inches / Millimeters