Collection Highlights
Thomas Cole (1801-1848)
Date:
ca. 1845
Object Number:
PR.012.2.885
Medium:
Daguerreotype
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Museum Collections
Luce Center
Spectacles and case
Object Number:
1942.233ab
Date:
ca. 1820-1830
Medium:
Silver, glass; leather
Dimensions:
Case: 1/2 x 2 x 4 1/2 in. ( 1.3 x 5.1 x 11.4 cm )
Overall (spectacles closed): 1 1/8 x 4 1/2 x 1/2 in. (2.9 x 11.4 x
Marks:
engraved: on outside of left temple: "B Franklin./1788."
stamped: on inside of right temple: "D.B.HEMPSTED"
printed: on label affixed to case: "PORTER COLLECTION/NO."
written: in ink on label affixed to case: "BENJAMIN/FRANKLIN./1788"
written: on busi
Description:
Silver spectacles with oval lenses and "C" bridge; adjustable pin-slider temples with loops at ends; maker's mark on inside of right temple. Hard leather spectacles case (of later date) open at top with thumb-nail indent.
Gallery Label:
The donor of these spectacles wrote, "the spectacles of 'B Franklin 1788' are undoubtedly genuine. I obtained them direct from one of his descendants, Mrs. J.M. Read..." However, the silversmith who made these spectacles was not born until 1784, six years before Franklin's death.
Credit Line:
Gift of Dr. Abram Joseph Abeloff
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
