{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O108651"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O108651/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019MK0041/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019MK0041/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2019MK0041","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O108651","accessionNumber":"S.319-1981","objectType":"Opera glasses","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"During the 18th century prosperous theatregoers could buy a long, collapsible type of telescope known as an Opera Glass to help them see  performances on stage. The earliest type of binocular opera glasses began to appear in the early 19th century, and the optician Johann Friedrich  Voigtlander produced a type in Vienna that was essentially two telescopes bridged together, focused independently by individual draw tubes.\r\n\r\n\tOpera glasses were improved in Paris in 1825 with Pierre Lemière's invention of a central focus wheel with two eye tubes that could be adjusted  simultaneously. By the mid 19th century opera glasses were an essential accessory for the fashionable theatregoer, and to satisfy the demand  manufacturers produced a range of beautifully made and exquisitely decorated models. The type with long handles favoured in France and  Austria were known as lorgnettes, and early 19th century satires featured the use of opera glasses to glimpse details of ladies' dress on stage  that would not otherwise have been so evident.","physicalDescription":"Opera glasses made of brass and white metal, painted black, with brown leather covering on the barrels.  A strip of leather is missing from one barrel nearest the front lens.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"brass","id":"AAT10946"},{"text":"white metal","id":"AAT10998"},{"text":"leather","id":"AAT11845"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2019MK0041"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"005","id":"THES355493"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"opera glasses","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"late 19th century-early 20th century","earliest":"1850-01-01","latest":"1950-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Richard Vincent Hughes Bequest","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"6.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"lenses not extended","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"11","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"at widest point","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"of front lens","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"3.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"of eye pieces","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Given by Richard Vincent Hughes, but not known if used by him or collected by him as the property of an actor or actress.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Opera glasses, late 19th or early 20th century","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.319-1981"],"accessionNumberNum":"319","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":1981,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-16","recordCreationDate":"2005-01-21","availableToBook":true}}