1835-80 Octagon Spectacle frame Tombstone Silver Dust finish

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Description

1835-80 Octagon Spectacle frame Tombstone Silver Dust finish (Matte Silver, replicates period coin silver)

Included with purchase is 1800s Slip in Spectacle Case and micro-fiber wipe with our Historic EyeWear Company logo.

The History Behind The Spectacle Style

Although Octagon shaped spectacles were available from the beginning of the 1800s, the octagonl shaped spectacles combined with the narrow loop-slide temple appear approximately 1835-1836 and their popularity continued through the 1900. 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.

Mathew Brady, one of the earliest photographers in American history, best known for his scenes of the Civil War was a prominent wearer of this style spectacle frame.

The slip-in spectacle case 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 1840-95 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:

19th century Octagonal eyeglass frame, crank or English style nose piece, loop slide temple, teardrop finial, no nose-pads.

Sizes are listed in Inches / Millimeters