Short spy glasses
During the period of Louis XV the lorgnette became an instrument for
the close and unashamed observation of female beauty. Having originally
been used for this purpose in the theatre it soon became popular in a
variety of situations. (On this subject Mercier wrote an article entitled
«Les Lorgneurs», published in the Tableau de Paris in 1793: «Paris is full
of these lorgneurs, setting their eyes on you, fixing your person with a
steady and immobile gaze. This behaviour is so widespread that it is not
even considered indecent anymore. Ladies are not offended when they are
observed arriving at the theatre or whilest taking a walk. But should this
happen when they are amongst themselves the lorgneur is considered
uncouth and accused of insolence». The criticism becomes more severe in
the chapter dedicated to the lorgnette: «...they are quite an offence to
fashion. Lorgnettes encircle hats, they are contained in fans and in all
manner of strange objects. The perfection of beautiful eyes is concealed
by a useless instrument which is far more noticeable than the defect itself).
