Description
This listing is for an original antique pair of Lemaire Fabt Paris French binoculars / field glasses, dating from approximately the late 19th century, circa 1880–1900.
The eyepieces are marked:
LEMAIRE FABᵀ PARIS
and the central brass fitting carries Lemaire’s distinctive bee trademark.
These attractive binoculars are constructed from black-finished metal and brass with dark brown leather-covered objective housings. They retain their unusual hinged leather objective covers, which fold over the large front lenses for protection when the binoculars are not in use.
The central focusing mechanism is operated by the ribbed brass control.
Details:
- Maker: Lemaire
- Marking: LEMAIRE FABᵀ PARIS
- Maker’s trademark: Bee emblem
- Origin: Paris, France
- Period: Late 19th century / Victorian era (Approximate date: c.1880–1900)
- Type: Field binoculars / opera glasses
- Optical design: Galilean
- Materials: Brass, metal, glass and leather
- Finish: Black with gilt/brass fittings
- Objective lens diameter: 32mm
- Integral hinged leather objective protectors
- Central focusing mechanism
- Size (when closed): 115mm (W) x 80mm (H) x 20mm (D)
- Weight: 244 g
History:
Lemaire was an important Parisian optical manufacturer founded by Armand Lemaire in 1846. The company produced a wide range of binoculars, opera glasses and field glasses for both domestic and export markets.
The small bee emblem seen on this pair was used as the Lemaire trade mark and can also be found on documented examples of the company’s binoculars.
This style of compact leather-covered field glass was particularly popular during the later 19th century, before prismatic binoculars became the dominant design.
Condition:
The binoculars are in attractive original antique condition with extensive age-related wear and patination.
The leather covering shows areas of rubbing, wear and losses. The interiors of the hinged objective covers show considerable deterioration to the original finish, with areas of exposed material, old adhesive/residue and green verdigris around some of the brass edges.
There is also wear to the black finish and gilt/brass surfaces, together with scratches, marks and general signs of age and use.
The objective lenses and eyepieces are intact and clean.
Please study all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the description and show the condition, construction and markings in detail.
An attractive and unusual survivor from the 19th-century French optical industry, suitable for collectors of antique binoculars, Victorian scientific instruments, French optics or decorative antiques.
