{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1136900"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1136900/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AH3891/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AH3891/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AH3891","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1136900/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1136900","accessionNumber":"S.2541-2009","objectType":"Print","titles":[{"title":"H Beard Print Collection","type":"named collection"}],"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\nOpera 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. In this case a lady is the subject of the satire, using them to spy on a fellow audience member.","physicalDescription":"Print depicting a woman in a yellow dress standing in an opera box looking through theatre binoculars.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Cruikshank, George","id":"A8303"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"S. W. Fores","id":"A13374"},"association":{"text":"publishers","id":"AAT25574"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"},{"text":"ink","id":"AAT15012"}],"techniques":[{"text":"etching (printing process)","id":"AAT53241"},{"text":"hand-colouring","id":"AAT133555"},{"text":"print-making","id":"AAT131119"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Hand coloured etching","categories":[{"text":"Prints","id":"THES48903"},{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2006AH3891"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"009","id":"THES356578"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"prints","id":"AAT41273"}],[{"text":"etchings","id":"AAT41365"}],[{"text":"caricatures","id":"AAT15634"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"published","id":"x30682"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"9th August 1817","earliest":"1817-08-09","latest":"1817-08-09"},"association":{"text":"published","id":"x30682"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"S.2542-2009","id":"O1136901"},"association":"Version"}],"creditLine":"Harry R. Beard Collection, given by Isobel Beard","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"35.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"24.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Print depicting a woman in an opera box looking through theatre binoculars with the insciption 'May I die if ther isn't Sir George!! Charming man!! As I live he's looking this way, oh! the dear fellow', published by W.S. Fores, 1817, Harry Beard Collection.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.2541-2009"],"accessionNumberNum":"2541","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2009,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"H Beard collection numbering","id":"THES50444"},"number":"F.116-22"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-08","recordCreationDate":"2009-09-10","availableToBook":true}}