icon for Home page
icon for Kid's Home page
icon for Digital Collection
icon for Activities
icon for Turns Exhibit
icon for In the Classroom
icon for Chronologies
icon for My Collection

Online Collection

front
(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
Contact us for information about using this image.



label levels:

"Imported in the last Ships from London, and sold by William Price, at the Corner Shop, next to the Old Brick Meeting-House, and near the Town-House, Boston. ? best steel Temple and Nose Spectacles, ?" (Boston News-Letter, May 24, 1750)
Before 1730, spectacles did not have sidepieces that rested upon the ears. Rather, they sat on the nose, which is why the advertisement is selling both "Temple" (those with sidepieces) and "Nose" (those without) spectacles. The sidepieces on these spectacles are typical of the period, with large loops at the ends. The large eye rims and extensions are also very characteristic of eighteenth century spectacles. Most spectacles in the eighteenth century were reading glasses. They were not made for the individual person. Today, the same thing is true for the reading glasses people can by at the drug store.

 

top of page

Spectacles

creator   Unknown
date   1760-1780
width   4.37"
height   1.37"
length   4.0"
process/materials   glass, steel
item type   Personal Items/Personal Artifacts
accession #   #MH.F.278


Look Closer icon My Collection icon Detailed info icon


ecard icon Send an e-Postcard of this object



See Also...

Spectacles

Spectacles


button for Side by Side Viewingbutton for Glossarybutton for Printing Helpbutton for How to Read Old Documents

 

Home | Online Collection | Things To Do | Turns Exhibit | Classroom | Chronologies | My Collection
About This Site | Site Index | Site Search | Feedback