Recently I acquired a beautiful, well-made Joan Rivers lorgnette necklace.
In her book Jewelry by Joan Rivers published in 1995 by Abbeville Press Publishers, this design is described as a:
…lorgnette with alabaster- and lapis-enameled stem bearing crest of Nicholas II, after a design by Fabergé; …
Rivers, p. 109
Joan Rivers lorgnette necklaces were hugely popular. Her book shows at least 15 different lorgnette necklace designs!
In history, a lorgnette is a pair of opera glasses with a long side handle so it can be maneuvered with one hand. Often the glasses were retractable and could be worn on a chain or attached to a brooch. Lorgnette is a French word meaning to ogle. In the late 19th century, it was used to view the actors on stage and, perhaps more importantly at the time, to view the people in the audience.
This Joan Rivers lorgnette is a modern innovation on the original lorgnette (opera glass) design.
Rivers early designs, like this one, were 24 karat gold plated and made in the U.S.A. with a very high level of quality. The magnifier is strong enough to be useful.
This great necklace is not going to sit in a box. It is destined to become my new shopping companion. I’m considering buying another design in silver with pavé rhinestones instead of enamel.
ASIDE: Some early jewelry designs from the 1940s were made in two finishes – one enameled and one covered in rhinestones. Collectors today covet the colorful enameled finishes but, at the time they were made, the pavé finish was more time consuming and more expensive to produce.
Happy Collecting,
Love,
Julie