Description
A rare and particularly early pair of French antique opera / theatre glasses by L’Ingénieur Chevallier of Paris, dating from approximately c.1835–1842.
These are an early “Jumelle Centrée” design. The two eyepiece surrounds are extensively engraved.
One is marked approximately:
“JUMELLE CENTRÉE INVENTÉE PAR L’ING. CHEVALLIER”
The other carries the maker’s inscription:
“L’ING. CHEVALLIER – OPTICIEN DU ROI – VIS-À-VIS LE MARCHÉ AUX FLEURS”
This identifies the glasses with the celebrated Paris optical house of L’Ingénieur Chevallier, associated with Jean-Gabriel-Augustin Chevallier (1778–1848), one of the important French makers and developers of optical and scientific instruments during the early 19th century.
The “vis-à-vis le Marché aux Fleurs” wording is particularly useful for dating the instrument. Chevallier’s earlier establishment was situated by the Tour de l’Horloge, opposite the Paris flower market, before the business transferred to 15 Place du Pont-Neuf in the early 1840s.
The glasses are therefore believed to date from approximately c.1835–1842.
They are constructed predominantly in brass with a warm aged patina and feature an unusually decorative central focusing / adjustment mechanism. The ocular tubes extend vertically from the main bodies and the design incorporates Chevallier’s adjustable centred arrangement.
Condition:
In good antique condition for an instrument approaching two centuries old.
There is extensive natural patination, tarnishing, surface marking and wear to the brass finish consistent with age and use.
Some areas retain brighter traces of their original finish, while other areas have developed darker bronze and copper tones.
The lenses are intact and clean for the age.
The central focusing and adjustment components are present and functional. The eyepieces rise smoothly as the focusing knob is turned. When lowering them, the eyepieces may require light manual support to keep them balanced while the focusing knob is turned.
There is some verdigris / oxidation visible around a number of joints and fittings, together with normal historic wear to the eyepiece surrounds.
Please study all photographs carefully as they form an important part of the condition description.
A particularly interesting and uncommon example of an early 19th-century French binocular design, with strong historical interest for collectors of antique optics, opera glasses, scientific instruments and early optical technology.
Maker: L’Ingénieur Chevallier
Type: Jumelle Centrée / opera glasses
Origin: Paris, France
Date: Approximately c.1835–1842
Material: Brass and glass
Objective lens diameter: 26mm
Size (when closed): 100mm (W) x 45mm (H) x 38mm (D)
A period leather fitted case is included
