An extraordinary find — a new, never-worn pair of antique gold plated cork and gold plate pince-nez eye glasses from 1890, with +2.00 diopter lenses at a 20 inch focal length. These remarkable frames are old stock from Bay State Optical, signed “B.S.O.” under the bridge spring, and have remained unworn for over 135 years. The cork nose pads, frames, and lenses are all in new condition — an almost unheard of state of preservation for eyewear of this age.
The pince-nez — also known in their day as “eye-glasses” or “nose spectacles” — were first developed by the French around 1840 and flourished throughout the late 1800s, remaining in fashionable use well into the early 20th century. This pair represents that golden era of the pince-nez at its finest: elegant, lightweight, and perfectly balanced on the nose without the need for temples or ear pieces.
The +2.00 diopter prescription lenses already fitted to this frame would suit a mild reader, and an optician could easily replace them with lenses of any prescription desired. The fact that these frames have never been worn and retain their original cork nose pads, gold plate finish, and Bay State Optical markings in pristine condition makes them an exceptional rarity — equally desirable as a wearable piece of living history or as a museum-quality collector’s item.
According to Rosenthal, pince-nez were first developed by the French in 1840, flourished in the late 1800s, and some are still worn today.
