The life of any modern person is somehow connected with the science of antiquity. No wonder: history is a living memory, a teacher of life, as Cicero said. In addition, the masterpieces of world art, whether literary works or paintings, over time interest society more and more. Cultural education cannot but rejoice, but much still remains incomprehensible. First of all, this concerns obsolete words.
What is a lorgnette?
Often, when studying a painting or a novel of the eighteenth century, one can notice a small detail: almost everywhere there is an image or description of small glasses with a handle. Eugene Onegin looked askance through this device at unknown ladies, and the artist K. V. Lebedev depicted in his painting "Auction in the XVIII century." an old man looking intently at something with the help of unprecedented glasses. Such a device, unusual to the eye of a modern person, is called a lorgnette.
So, a lorgnette is a folding glasses equipped with a handle for ease of use. During the time span between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, this instrumentenjoyed great popularity in secular society. Because of the general desire for knowledge, representatives of the upper classes constantly read, and not always in good light. Delicate ladies and handsome men were embarrassed by their own myopia, but they considered ordinary glasses to be in bad taste - then a lorgnette came to the rescue.
What does it look like?
Lornet is a fairly simple mechanism: it consists of a handle, in the middle of which there is a slot. In it, the lenses are "hidden". The handle is equipped with a metal ring that is attached to a chain around the neck. Thus, the optical device was always with the owner and in full view.
Of course, in essence, a lorgnette is glasses, albeit not quite similar to them. But secular society in every item that they used and that anyone could notice saw only an accessory. This fate could not be avoided and lorgnette. Master jewelers did their best for the benefit of we althy clients: even the most expensive and rare materials were used.
Ornament of lorgnette
The handle was mainly decorated - it was made of ivory or mother-of-pearl. The finish of the frame matched the handle. In cases where the accessory belonged to especially important people, lorgnettes were decorated with precious stones and monograms - this was considered a sign of nobility. A special luxury is a gold frame, but most of the cream of society could not afford it.
The richest people in the world could make themselves lorgnettes that cost a wholecondition. This is how a device made of platinum, adorned with diamonds and sapphires, appeared. The miracle of jewelry art belonged to Princess Lyubova-Rostova, and it was created by the world-famous Louis Cartier, the founder of his own fashion house. But the princess was not the only lover of luxury: Prince Felix used a lorgnette with 442 diamonds.
Special attention was paid to cases. Ladies used fabric covers trimmed with beads. Interestingly, women's handbags of that time often had a special place for such a case.
How was the lorgnette used?
The devices were worn in different ways: men - in their pockets or on a vest chain, women - on a belt, neck chain or even on bracelets that adorned their wrists. Over time, the role of the fan, which was used for coquetry, was replaced by a lorgnette. The glasses showed the gentleman an interest in his person and prompted reciprocal feelings.
Despite the ingenuity of court coquettes, the main purpose of using fashionable glasses was good eyesight. Without sufficient orientation in space, high-ranking officials risked losing their status and earning a bad reputation. It’s worth not recognizing a familiar general, for example, how the whole society began to whisper venomously - and this is perhaps the worst thing that could happen to a member of the nobility.
Types of lorgnettes
Despite the prevailing idea that any glasses consist of two lenses, this is not entirely true, the lorgnette refutes this. In addition to the familiar to modern manshape, this optical device could also consist of a single lens. Such specimens looked more like a magnifying glass. There were also lorgnettes without a handle; in the future, they formed a new fashion - on monocles.
The history of the lorgnette
There are several theories about the appearance of a fashionable device. As is often the case, scientists are divided into two camps. Some believe that the lorgnette was born in the fifteenth century, when someone turned ordinary glasses "upside down." Over time, eyepieces that were inconvenient to use acquired a handle, and then acquired a familiar look. This version is proved by an ancient miniature, which depicts a man in strange inverted glasses.
The opinion of opponents of such an unusual method of invention is radically opposite. Scientists believe that the lorgnette is the result of the work of George Adams, who became famous for his numerous discoveries and inventions in the field of optics. According to this version, at the end of the eighteenth century, Adams decided to do away with the problem of ugly glasses once and for all. Thus, an exquisite, but such a useful accessory appeared.
Be that as it may, everyone knew what a lorgnette was at the time of balls and luxury. Even the great emperor who defeated Napoleon, Alexander the First, used it. Since childhood, embarrassed by his short-sightedness, the young sovereign always wore a device in the sleeve of his uniform, and, by the way, often lost it.
Using the word "lorgnette" in the present tense
The twenty-first century has been called the century of technology for a reason. Nowcomplex mechanisms for the manufacture of optical instruments have reduced the problem of poor vision to nothing. Contact lenses allow you to see the world around you perfectly, vision correction centers restore the he alth and normal functioning of the eyes. Against the background of large-scale technological progress, even glasses have become a rarity. What can we say about the lorgnette!
However, there are still references to the device. Poets and writers have left to posterity a clear idea of the indispensability of this accessory. Without the necessary knowledge of its history and application, it will not work to understand the correct meaning of some scenes, no matter how hard you try. But what to do with the information received?
Those who have complete information about some terms that have left the lexicon will always find a use for them. The status of a smart person needs no explanation, he will always find respect and recognition among work colleagues or close friends. In addition, an expanded outlook has never interfered with anyone, because the brain must be kept in constant tone.
Of course, there is no place to use an irrelevant term now, except at exhibitions or in an art gallery. But this is more a plus than a minus, because there is a reason to visit the museum once again! Thus, understanding how lorgnette (the definition of what an obsolete word means) was used will be extremely beneficial to an informed person.
Why should I know about lorgnette?
Even in the age of technology, one must not forget the meaning of a word. Lornet, although gone down in history, is still remembered as an important attribute of secular society. Without him ladiesdid not go out, and men did not imagine a normal existence. The importance of this device in the world of solemn luxury makes modern people accept the lorgnette as an integral part of a bygone era, as its symbol. In order to sincerely feel the spirit of that time, you need to remember what a lorgnette is.
