Temptation of Saint. Anthony by Maarten de Vos (Antwerp 1532- 1603), ca
1594, Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Antwerp, Belgium |
Long handled watch lorgnette, tortoiseshell, "Breveté" indicates that the
design of this incorporates one or more patents claimed by Gautrot,
circa 1890-1910, Vascellari Collection, extremely beautiful |
Photo of Joshua Wilder, taken in the 1850s, from Harbor & Home: Furniture
of Southeastern Massachusetts, 1710-1850, by Brock Jobe, Gary R.
Sullivan and Jack O'Brien. www.garysullivanantiques.com Joshua was an
important clockmaker in Hingham, MA. He made many tall case
(grandfather) clocks and also dwarf clocks during the first quarter of
the nineteenth century. |
Oval frame, real tortoiseshell, solid silver joints, folding at the nose,
circa 1840 |
Ceiling fresco with four Evangelists including Saint Mark, painted by
Antonio Zago (Antonello da Serravalle), 1498, in the Church of the Holy
Trinity (La Mattarella), Cappella Maggiore, Treviso, Italy. This church
was built by the Longobard in the VIII-IX century, restored and frescoed
in the XV century. Photo courtesy of Franco Bianchi. |
| Benjamin Franklin Exhibit
Visit the Website
Founding father, scientist, diplomat, humorist, philanthropist,
entrepreneur, rebellious teen – Benjamin Franklin is one of the most
remarkable and influential Americans of any generation. Learn more about the
many sides of Ben Franklin and discover his impact on your world in this
electrifying new exhibit. The exhibit presents artifacts related to
Franklin’s inventions – including likely the world’s earliest known pair of
bifocals. |
| New Address for Museo dell’Occhiale The famed optical museum
Museo dell’Occhiale has moved to a new address at Via Arsenale 15 in Pieve di Cadore,
Italy. People are able to visit the most important and
comprehensive optical collection in the world. The creation the original
museum back in 1989 was the innovative idea of Vittorio Tabacchi, President
of the Safilo Group. Over 3000 pieces are in the collection and it features
some optical antiques of the Bodart, De Lotto and Weiss Collections. Objects
from Europe, China, the US, and the Orient dating as far back as the 1500’s
are on display. Included are spectacles, spectacle cases, optical signs,
canes, fans, telescopes, binoculars, votives, paintings, and also modern
eyeglass examples (metal and plastic). Many of these recent ones were worn
by famous Hollywood stars.
The new museum comprises two floors with the best and rarest examples on
the first floor. Also included here are the history, uses, techniques, and
evolution of instruments. The second floor is dedicated to the industrial
development of the glass industry from the collection Del Favero, the most
important collection of utensils from work in Cadore by the second half of
the 18th century. The machines, images, and instruments represent the
Belluno section of Italy where 80 % of the glasses are manufactured.
Visiting this museum in person is guaranteed to be a very worthwhile
experience for anyone interested in this significant subject.
You may also visit them online at
http://www.eyewear.net/asso/museo |
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