|
OBJECT(s) |
LOCATION
+ INVENTORY NUMBER |
TIMEFRAME |
DESCRIPTION |
PHOTOS |
ADDITIONAL FEATURES +
COMMENTS |
|
eyeglass case and nose spectacles |
E Cl 21.030 |
dated "1558" on the top |
carved wood, oblong shape, brass hinges, birds and flowers and people are
shown, glasses look like silver, frame is an unusual form with
lateral slots for lens insertion.
The spectacles may not be original; instead with soldering
and also what looks like screws the glasses may be from early 1700s. |
 |
There are symbols (weapons) of a Cardinal so the front and the
back, require further study.
Two people are depicted on the front while on the back a man is holding open
the mouth of a lion
This is the oldest case in the world that has an actual date on it. |
|
eyeglass case and two Masterpieces |
E Cl 21.028 |
dated "1687"
Inside is a paper written in French by Heymann which translates the German
written on the outside front. This includes (A) name of the maker, (B) date
when he became master, and (C) the master spectacles makers
who judged him. |
oval shaped wooden case, motif: decorated with flourets (composite of
ornamental flowers), Germany, for two Masterpiece spectacles, highly
decorative frames (one is red horn and the other is black horn), original
lenses |
 |
Only one other known Masterpiece spectacles case has this
oval appearance with floral carvings. It was in Richard Greff’s Collection
which was donated to the Zeiss Museum. In this instance of the Heymann
Collection the new master’s name is Hans Bieedermund Hammer. His work was
completed September 1, 1687 and the two masters who judged the work were
Paulus Prachtel and Hans Christoff Grinder. This is the translation of that
front cover. |
|
eyeglass case and nose spectacles |
E Cl 21.049 |
probably 17th century |
carved wood in almost the shape of a figure of eight, for a single pair of
Nuremburg single wire spectacles |
 |
Front: perhaps a small woman in a dress between the larger profiles of a man
and a woman.
Back: a cross between two horned deer. |
|
eyeglass case and nose spectacles |
E Cl 21.077 |
18th century |
wooden case, Italian, the front carving refers to “Il Solimano”, a play
written in 1619 by Bonarelli, represented in Venice, and done as a tribute
to Grand Duke Cosimo II |
 |
The subject was a tragedy and it was taken from the history of the Musulman.
This play centeredon the intrigues of the Ottoman Court of Suleiman 1 the
Magnificent (1494-1566). |
|
eyeglass case and nose spectacles |
E Cl 21.072 |
19th century |
carved wooden pull-off case with white metal trim, has blue-tinted
spectacles made of white metal, rectangular frame, crank bridge and sliding
sides, paper label says “Duca di San Marco Capece Zurlo”.
|
 |
Certainly unique.
Front: instruments of The Passion and also the "Last Supper".
Back: shows “The Flight into Egypt” and also other important religious
symbols. |
|
eyeglass case and nose spectacles |
E Cl 21.025 |
end of 17th century |
This case must be looked upon as a two-sided printing block, Italy, brass
hardware, engraved wood was perhaps used as an ex libris. Built for two pair
of spectacles although only one pair with leather-frames and a steel arched
nose bridge is present
|
 |
Front: in the middle: Cupid is stepping on a peacock’s tail, with the words
just above “I hate pride”. Above that: Satyrs with goat feet and butterfly
wings, holding a basket, with a dove falling down on it. Below: two nymphs
with butterfly wings.
Back: in the middle: 'l'amour' (love) holds a burning torch, the text above
says 'CAJ VI TORNA SI ASSE INDE : 'who turns around will burn'. Above that:
two mermaids hold the fantasy crown of a marquis. Below: two cherubs play
the flute. |
|
eyeglass case and nose spectacles |
E Cl 21.031 |
early 17th century |
sculpted wooden case, exquisite carvings, brass hardware, leather- framed
eyeglasses with a grooved bridge (cut from one piece of leather), one
cracked lens. |
 |
Front: Cupid with a bow and arrow in the forest near a large trunked tree
with clumps of hanging berries. His face is looking away from the other side
of the tree where a naked woman (is this Eve in paradise?) with an elaborate
flowing headdress is sleeping. His arrow is pointed towards her.
Back: shows more of the forest with plants and flowers. A small owl is in
the center and two very long-beaked birds are hanging upside down on either
side with a two other smaller birds in the scene. |
|
eyeglass case and nose spectacles |
E Cl 21.024 |
17th century |
Carved wooden case, inside: two musical angels are lso seen, for two pair of
glasses but only one pair of green-tinted wire nose spectacles exists,
probably Flanders region of
Belgium
|
 |
Truly extraordinary – especially unique
Front: Crucifixion of Christ and also Mary Magdalene with small Jerusalem
buildings in the background.
Back: Virgin and Child surrounded by three others with four winged angels. |
|
eyeglass case and nose spectacles (two pair) |
E Cl 21.032 |
late 17th century |
Mostly oval wooden case, carved with much decoration front and back,
for two pair of wire spectacles, one with “London” etched onto both lenses.
|
 |
Front: two saints - one on the left is holding a cross while the one on the
right holds flowers, surrounded by other flowers and birds.
Back: Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus, surrounded by four angels, birds, and
flowers and ropes, stippled surface both front and back even with a border |
|
eyeglass case and nose spectacles |
E Cl 21.029 |
17th century |
Sculpted boxwood, open case, decorated, France, for one pair of baleen
spectacles |
 |
Extremely fancy and wonderful
Front: grotesque mask with birds on the side, clump of berries hanging in
front of each birds.
Back: perhaps a unicorn with a star above and serpents on either side. |
|
eyeglass case and nose spectacles |
E Cl 21.055 |
early 18th century |
Sculpted wooden case, the carvings tell the story of Hubert (656-728) who
became a Saint. Front: Hubert went on a hunt and as he was kneeling the stag
turned showing a crucifix on the top of its head. Notice the trees, birds, 2
dogs, and a horse. For not killing the stag Hubert first became a priest and
later a saint which is depicted on the reverse. Made for hallmarked
heavy silver-framed spectacles, some damage is noted where the wood is
cracked in two places near the hinges
|
 |
Incredible carving
St. Hubert was born into a wealthy family and as a youth he was caught up in
a life of adventure and pleasure. His chief passion was that of the chase.
According to legend, one Good Friday when the faithful were crowding the
churches, Hubert set out on the hunt. He was pursuing a magnificent stag.
When the stag stopped and turned its head toward him, Hubert saw a crucifix
between its antlers. This apparition was the beginning of a conversion
experience, which led Hubert to give up his worldly pursuits and goods,
become a priest, and eventually the first Bishop of Liege, Belgium. St.
Hubert was honored in the Middle Ages as the patron of huntsmen. Today he is
the patron saint of all animals. His feast day is November 3rd. |
|
eyeglass case and nose spectacles (two pair) |
E Cl 21.047 |
16th century per the Heymann book |
Spectacle case made of iron, engraved with bands of Arabesque. An ornamental
band of scrolled vine leaves all around. A pheasant on the one side and a
monster on the other along with scrolled ornamentation including flowers.
Flip-top lid with a band on both sides, one says “made in Parma, Italy”
while on the other side “Gio Maria Covalel”, inside there is a space for two
spectacles.
|
 |
Provenance : Collection of Henri Le Sesq of the Tournelles (1854-1925).
The Museum The Secq of the Tournelles was founded in 1920. It occupies the
church Saint Lawrence (XVe and XVIe centuries) to Rouen. It contains an
ironworks collection bequeathed by Henri The Secq of the Tournelles
(1854-1925) and that had been begun in 1862 by his father Henri The Secq.
Since the case was thought to be 16th century, the glasses can not be
original, since they are Nuremburg single wire probably 17.17th century |
|
eyeglass case and nose spectacles (two pair) |
E Cl 21.026 |
17th century |
Carved ivory case for two pairs of wire-nose spectacles,
designed in the form of a book with sundials showing Italian hours on the
front and back covers, possibly made in Nuremberg. |
 |
Incredibly rare, one of only two known with sundials on the front and back.
This object was noted on the RMN website which also led to
the collection in storage at the Chateau.
|
|
eyeglass case and nose spectacles |
E Cl 21.052 |
17th century |
eyeglasses box, made of turned ivory, with six (actually seven) medallions,
for one pair of wire spectacles
|
 |
Incredibly rare |
|
eyeglass case and nose spectacles |
E Cl 21.056 |
17th century |
carved eyeglasses case, white ivory, flower carvings the same front and
back, for a pair of heavy silver nose spectacles with unusual oblique lens
insertion
|
 |
Incredibly rare |
|
eyeglass case and nose spectacles |
E Cl 21.073 |
perhaps early 18th century |
solid silver eyeglass case, shaped like a figure of eight, engraved castle
and trees on the front, perhaps a back entry is shown on the reverse, (could
this instead be some small town?), possibly Dutch-made, for heavy silver
nose spectacles with an unusual vertically wide nosebridge
|
 |
|
|
eyeglass case and collapsing nose spectacles (two pair) |
E Cl 21.092 |
18th century |
small round case with pattern of tiny silver studs, dark tortoiseshell, for
two round frame silver collapsing nose spectacles at least one hallmark
(needs identification), probably original lenses (interesting that they
differ in appearance where the nosebridge meets the round frame).
|
 |
Incredibly rare, one of only two known
Provenance: used by Giovanni Antonio Galignani (1757–1821), Italian
newspaper publisher born at Brescia. After living some time in London, he
went to Paris, where he started in 1800 an English library, and in 1808 a
monthly publication, the Repertory of English Literature. In 1814 he began
to publish, in Paris, Galignani's Messenger, a daily paper printed in
English. At his death in 1821 the paper was carried on by his two sons, John
Anthony (1796–1873) and William (1798–1882). Under their management it
enjoyed a high reputation. Its policy was to promote good feeling between
England and France. The brothers established and endowed hospitals at
Corbeil and at Neuilly-sur-Seine. In recognition of their generosity the
city of Corbeil erected a monument in their honor. In 1884 the Galignani
family disposed of their interest in Galignani's Messenger, and from that
date until 1904, when it was discontinued, the paper appeared under the
title of the Daily Messenger. |
|
eyeglass case |
E Cl 21.064 |
16 - 17th century per Madame Heymann |
iron eyeglass case, one side shows a large crown while the other is plain,
no glasses are enclosed
|
 |
This is identified by Heymann as the crown of the Archbishop of Besançon
(Roman Catholic)
Also came ot Madame Heymann from the Secq des Tournelles Collection |
|
eyeglass case with rivet spectacles |
E Cl 21.023 |
16th century |
"belt-case" made of leather with embossed (fleur-de-lis) designs, from the
time of King of France Henry IV (1553-1610), pull off top is attached by
cords with tassels which travel through moderately long channels on the
sides of the upper and lower portions. This houses round horn-framed rivet
spectacles, which had been displayed “in the Science cabinet” of a room from
the Middle Ages. |
 |
One of only two known rivet spectacles with a horn frame that
evidently is thought to be original and early. The spectacles here appear to
be even older than the eyeglass case, which itself is extremely rare. We
have since learned that Pierre Marly of Paris examined the frames in the
past and thought they were likely reproductions. The intact glass lenses
need further close microscopic examination to be 100% certain they could be
more than 400 years old.
|
|
eyeglass case and nose spectacles |
E Cl 21.066 |
circa 1700 |
eyeglass case shaped mostly like a figure of eight, solid silver decorated
with scrolls and what may be plants. In the upper middle is a weaved basket,
and the flowers are made of inlaid mother of pearl, for silver nose
spectacles with a very high and wide
arch
|
 |
Quite attractive and unique |
|
eyeglass case and nose spectacles |
E Cl 21.022 |
dated "1580" |
“belt-case” because it was made to hang from the waist, bronze, the front
side represents on the lowest part "1580", above that is the Judgment of
Paris (not the town), above which is the text "trust in God". Above that
is a skull, ornaments and leaves, also two horns and two faces. The other
side is engraved with Christ on a cross, in a medallion of leaves and
flowers, and finally above that is more flowers with a shield with the
letters DF. Inside are wire nose spectacles. Notice the chords that hold the
top and bottom together via little tubes on the side. Some back damage
near the top in two areas.
|
 |
2nd earliest dated case in the world – the glasses are not original to the
case because this style was not in production in Germany until the mid 17th
century. Most likely a pair of bow spectacles in horn or even leather
spectacles were the original pair.
Still this is a very interesting object. The Judgement of Paris is from
Greek Mythology, one of the events that led up to the Trojan War and to the
foundation of Rome. This case was on the bottom of the River Seine and was
dug up in 1858 by Arthur Forgeais. It was then given to Mr Le secq des
Cournelles (1818-1882), painter printmaker, photographer, and collector.
From there it went to his son Henri le Secq des Cournelles. Then it came
into the possession of Mme Heymann. |
|
|
|
16th century jeton |
Cl 21.095 |
16th century |
French jeton, front and back views show the Seal of he eyeglass craftsmen,
made of copper alloy, about 26 mm diameter, Musee national du Moyen Age -
Thermes de Cluny, Paris, France Photo credit: Jean-Gilles Berizzi of
Réunion des Musées Nationaux / Art Resource, NY
Originating in France, jetons, or rechenpfennigs in
German, were originally used for accounting purposes on a board. Later they
were also used in games and acquired the value of chits. |
 |
One of the only two known examples of this French variety in
the world. Notice a pair of rivet spectacles on one side and a pair of rivet
spectacles in alternating fields on the other side. This is not the only
type of French jeton. There are hundreds known and there is even a second
type depicting spectacles (on a coat of arms on the reverse) that is
pictured in the book Les Besicles De Nos Ancetres. Sixteenth century German
rechenpfennigs depicting spectacles are called jetons as well and they are
more common. |
|
tobacco containers with a lorgnette (spyglass) |
mostly every single one from the Heymann Collection is still missing |
18/19th century |
two of these have been seen at the
Musée des Arts Décoratifs |
 |
Knowing the appearance of the two at the
Musée des Arts Décoratifs, one can only imagine the extraordinary
beauty of the nearly a dozen that are still missing |
|
optical fans |
mostly every single one from the Heymann Collection is still missing |
late 18th - early 19th century |
two of these have been seen at the
Musée des Arts Décoratifs |
|
Heymann announced in her 1900 publication that she had over two dozen
optical fans. So where are all of these at this time? |
