History of Science Museum: Collection Database Search

Internal Exhibition Label - 'Spectacles: Function & Fashion' - Opticians

Spectacles
Opticians

Opticians nowadays are closely associated with spectacles. In the past, opticians made and sold a wider range of visual devices, from telescopes to microscopes. Spectacles are displayed here with some of the other optical instruments from the optician's repertoire.

[Inv. 48522, 23525, 98616, 11343, 23114, 11363, 20277, 43367, 11351, 16423, 56966, 94944, 11340, 47944, 82020, 14288, 76394]

The 18th-century firm of Dollond remains on the modern high street as "Dollond & Aitchison". This trade card records Peter Dollond's shop sign as "the Golden Spectacles and Sea Quadrant" and also illustrates other optical instruments such as a reflecting telescope, a microscope and prism.

[Dollond trade card]

Other narratives:

• Inventory Number 43367 - Old Label
• Internal Exhibiton Label - 'Spectacles: Function & Fashion'

Related Objects:

• Inventory No. 48522, "Multiplying Glass, c.1830"
• Inventory No. 23525, "Opera Glasses, by C. W. Dixey, London, 19th Century", Dixey, C.W.
• Inventory No. 98616, "English Folding Opera Glass, by Dollond, London, Late 18th/Early 19th Century?" [1949-45], Dollond
• Inventory No. 11343, "Monocular Opera Glass, by T. Rubergall, London, 19th Century", Rubergall, Thomas
• Inventory No. 23114, "Operating Spectacles Belonging to Lord Florey, Mid 20th Century" [1969-124/19(D3)]
• Inventory No. 11363, "Monocular Opera Glass, by Watkins & Hill, London", Watkins & Hill
• Inventory No. 20277, "Binocular Opera Glasses, by R. & J. Beck, London, c. 1870", R. & J. Beck Ltd.
• Inventory No. 20277, "Case for R. & J. Beck Binocular Opera Glasses"
• Inventory No. 43367, "Multiplying Glass, c.1830"
• Inventory No. 11351, "8-Draw Monocular Opera Glass with Case, by Adams, London, Early 19th Century", Adams
• Inventory No. 11351, "Case for Adams' 8-Draw Opera Glass"
• Inventory No. 16423, "Wig Spectacles and Case, 1780-1781"
• Inventory No. 56966, "Reading Magnifying Glass, c.1700"
• Inventory No. 94944, "Tortoise-shell Spectacles, English, 19th Century"
• Inventory No. 11340, "Monocular Opera Glass, by Dollond, London, Early 19th Century" [1990-13], Dollond
• Inventory No. 11340, "Case for Dollond Monocular Opera Glass"
• Inventory No. 47944, "Wig Spectacles, 18th Century"
• Inventory No. 82020, "Reading Glass and Case, German, 18th Century"
• Inventory No. 14288, "Magnifying Glass with Leather Case, c.1700"
• Inventory No. 76394, "Metal Spectacles, English?, Early 19th Century"