{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1657611"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1657611/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021NB4780/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021NB4780/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021NB4780","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021NB4781","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021NB6161","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021NB6162","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1657611/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1657611","accessionNumber":"S.1075:1 to 2:-2021","objectType":"Opera glasses","titles":[{"title":"Folding opera glasses with velvet carrying pouch","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"The use of monocular opera glasses in the theatre goes back to the 1730s but it was not until 1823 that the first binocular opera glasses were invented in Vienna, built of two cylinders connected with a bridge with each eye-tube extended independently for focusing. Two years later in Paris, Pierre Lemière improved on these, creating the centre focus wheel  that allowed the focusing of both eyes together. \n\nThese opera glasses were made by Dolland, the London firm founded in Spitalfields by John Dolland in the 1750s when he started making scientific instuments. The company continued in family hands, by the mid-1800s being known as the most prestigious optical instrument makers in London, winning a medal for excellence at London's Great Exhibition in 1851. \n\nThese opera glasses with their original velvet and silk carrying pouch are probably Edwardian, certainly dating from before 1927 when Dolland merged with Aitchison and Company.","physicalDescription":"<b>S.1075:1-2021</b>\r\nBrass opera glasses with mother of pearl body and folding handle, the focus cups bearing the name of the maker\n\n<b>S.1075:2-2021</b>\nRed silk bag with silk lining and drawstring closure","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Dolland","id":"AUTH373039"},"association":{"text":"manufactured","id":"x39291"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"brass","id":"AAT10946"},{"text":"","id":""},{"text":"mother of pearl","id":"AAT11835"},{"text":"glass","id":"AAT10797"},{"text":"Mother of pearl","id":"AAT11835"},{"text":"glass","id":"AAT10797"},{"text":"velvet","id":"AAT133711"},{"text":"silk (textile)","id":"AAT243428"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Opera","id":"THES263971"},{"text":"Theatre","id":"THES250537"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2021NB4780","2021NB4781","2021NB6161","2021NB6162"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES409908"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"U","id":"THES297002"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"opera glasses","id":"AAT241913"}],[{"text":"opera glasses","id":"AAT241913"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"No","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca.1905","earliest":"1900-01-01","latest":"1909-12-31"},"association":{"text":"manufactured","id":"x29350"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Bequeathed by Peter Parker","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Width","value":"21.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"maximum width with handle opened out","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"3.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"maximum depth with handle folded out","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"5.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"maximum height","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"11.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"width with handle folded in","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"6.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"maximum depth with handle folded in","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"These opera glasses were probably inherited by Peter Parker, who bequeathed them to the museum, from his father Stanley Parker who was employed by the Savoy Hotel as a junior clerk in May 1909, straight from school. From that job, on the death of Helen D'Oyly Carte in 1913, he was chosen by Rupert D'Oyly Carte to understudy Mr George A. Richardson who managed the theatre from November 1911 to February 1915.\r\n\r\nIn 1913 Stanley Parker became Rupert D'Oyly Carte's private scretary, and later Bridget  D'Oyly Carte's private secretary, also secretary of both the Savoy Theatre Ltd., and the  Opera  Company","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Folding opera glasses with drawstring carrying pouch. Mother of pearl, brass and glass glasses with velvet pouch, made by Dolland, London, ca.1905","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.1075:1-2021","S.1075:2-2021"],"accessionNumberNum":"1075","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2021,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-11-03","recordCreationDate":"2021-09-06","availableToBook":true}}