{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O52940"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O52940/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AU6875/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AU6875/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AU6875","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O52940/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O52940","accessionNumber":"W.5 to B-1970","objectType":"Spectacle case and spectacles","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This spectacle case may have belonged to James II, although the folding spectacles most certainly were made several decades after his death in exile in 1701. The painted mother-of-pearl case is of the very highest quality - certainly fit for a king's use - and was probably made in France. Folding spectacles are mentioned in the advertisement of a French maker in 1745.  They are described as 'in the English style'.  It is likely that folding spectacles had been made for a decade or so before 1745, but there is no evidence that they were made during the lifetime of James II.\n\r\nA letter that accompanied the spectacles, written at the end of the 18th century, describes in detail how the case passed by gift from James's son, the Old Pretender, through several hands, until it came into the possession of a Mr Walker in 1770. By that time it must have been revered as a Jacobite relic by those who favoured the Stuart claim to the English throne.","physicalDescription":"Spectacle case of painted and gilded mother-of-pearl, containing a later pair of folding spectacles, of tortoise-shell and silver","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"","categories":[{"text":"Eyewear","id":"THES271062"},{"text":"Accessories","id":"THES48998"},{"text":"Europeana Fashion Project","id":"THES265804"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"FWK","id":"THES48597"},"images":["2006AU6875"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"005","id":"THES301870"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"005","id":"THES301870"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES301866"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Spectacle case","id":""}],[{"text":"Spectacles","id":""}],[{"text":"Letter","id":"x31546"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"France","id":"x28849"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"probably"}],"productionDates":[],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"5.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Spectacle case","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"8.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Spectacle case","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"1.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Spectacle case","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"4.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Spectacle (opened)","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"8.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Spectacle (opened)","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"0.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Spectacle (opened)","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"5.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Spectacle (folded)","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"3.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Spectacle (folded)","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"0.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Spectacle (folded)","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Spectacles in Case, purchased for £125 on 17 December 1969 from R M Pigot Esq, Pantiles, Great Hautbois, Norwich. RF 69/3498\r\n","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Spectacle case of painted and gilded mother-of-pearl, ca. 1685-1688, containing a later pair of tortoise-shell and silver folding spectacles of 1700-1725, probably made in France","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Macgregor, Ronald J.S.'Opthalmic Antiques. Newlsetter of the Ophthalmic Antiques International Collectors Club'. Number 66. January 1999, pp.4-6.  Copy in files of Furniture, Textiles and Fashion Department"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"David Forsyth (ed.), Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobites (catalogue to the exhibition at National Museum of Scotland, 23 June to 12 November 2017), Edinburgh 2017, cat. 44, pp.203-204"}],"production":"The case may date from as early as ca. 1685 but the folding spectacles are unlikely to be any earlier than 1735-40","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"PAIR OF SPECTACLES IN CASE \r\nENGLISH; about 1685-8\r\nPainted mother-of-pearl\r\n\r\nThey are reputed to have belonged to James II (1685-8)","date":{"text":"pre October 2000","earliest":null,"latest":"2000-09-30"}}],"partNumbers":["W.5-1970","W.5A-1970","W.5B-1970"],"accessionNumberNum":"5","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":1970,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Spectacle case","Spectacles","Letter"],"assets":["2019LU8466","2019LU0153","2019LV6490"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-23","recordCreationDate":"2001-01-24","availableToBook":true}}