Sold: Stenopeic Shell Specs

Description

Extraordinarily rare sterling silver and tortoiseshell stenopeic spectacles, c.  1819. “Stenopeic” means containing a narrow slit or opening and early stenopeic corrective eyewear is extremely scarce. Believe it or not, these curious eyeglasses may actually improve your vision, but as you might imagine, they never became fashionable — such that I could find no other extant example of this type and indeed very few historical examples at all.

The silver hallmarks on the frame reveal that this pair was made in France by an unidentified silversmith in 1819. The frame has elegant folding silver temples and — perhaps for myopic convenience — is of symmetrical design such that they are always right side up whichever way one puts them. The lenses are hand-carved and polished tortoiseshell, each pierced with a small hole.

Though they may look fantastic, the premise behind stenopeic spectacles is real: the “pinhole effect” has been known about for centuries if not millennia, and perhaps was most famously used by the Inuit to prevent snow blindness. Opaque pin-hole spectacles limit the amount of light entering the eye, causing it to pass directly through the center of the eye’s lens. Defects in the shape of the lens (errors of refraction) are thus avoided by controlling the diffusion of light. To this day, pinhole spectacles are prescribed for patients with conditions such as astigmatism and incipient cataract. And so — theoretically at least — these strange spectacles reduce refractive errors such as myopia.

Although the owner of these curious spectacles might have enjoyed slightly improved eyesight, he wouldn’t have seen much else besides tortoiseshell since the field of vision is reduced to a pinpoint (perhaps why they never caught on).

But think of a summer stroll along the Seine, sun-dappled waters out of sight but rippling through the warm hues of shell into your pupils — tout cela est très agréable — until, unable to see the edge of the promenade, you’re rippling in the river yourself.

Recently acquired from an important private collection of antique eyewear. Available. Price upon request.

Measurements

Frame front: 4.75 inches across
Temples: 6.75 inches long (with curve)

Condition

Excellent antique condition.

Shipping

Free in the continental United States. If an international buyer, please contact me for a shipping estimate by clicking here.