V RARE Antique French Palais Royal 8-Draw Opera Glass, Telescope, 18k & Carved Mother of Pearl
Such a thrill, the things that pass through our hands! This is a very rare item, late 18th to earliest 19th century 8-draw telescope, opera glass, monocular with origins in the boutiques of the Palais Royal boutiques along the garden promenade of the old Palace of Cardinal Richelieu. The kiln-fired 18k gold plaques with flower (4 in all around this large eyeglass) are each in place. All of the mother of pearl pieces are hand carved in various scenes and remain perfectly intact without so much as a tiny nip. SO rare to find, I have seen only 1 other in 4 decades of buying, and unlike ours, that one had flawed lenses. This one has clear and focused lens still at both ends - the originals. I did not try to take it all apart to clean the few flecks of dust that are on the inside of the glass, as they don't show in use - just show in our lighted digital images of them. No chips or flaws there. Full measurements and lots of photos of this rare treasure so you can see all the carvings, plaque