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Enamel Opera Glasse

Recent Sales

19th Century Pair of French Enamelled Opera Glasse
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful antique French mother-of-pearl and enamelled ormolu pair of opera glasses in
Category

Antique 1880s French Nautical Objects

Materials

Ormolu

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Finding the Right folk-art for You

Folk art refers to a genre of art that shares the creator’s traditions, offering not just an artistic display but an opportunity to learn about a culture. Vintage, new and antique folk art typically reflects a heritage or location. It can include utilitarian objects and handmade art as diverse as weather vanes, portraiture and paintings, carnival art, quilts and duck decoys.

American folk art is frequently valued because of the traditional skills involved, like weaving, hand-carving wood and even stonework. Many folk artists are self-taught, while some train as apprentices within their community. By using available materials and taking a personal approach to their creations, artists ensure each piece is unique and conveys a story. Native American folk art includes functional objects reflecting their heritage, such as baskets, textiles and wooden pieces.

During the Great Depression, artistic materials in America were hard to come by, so artisans used discarded wood from cigar boxes and shipping crates to make highly stylized, notched pieces — most often picture frames and boxes — that are today sought after by collectors. This folk art style is called tramp art and was popular from roughly 1870 until the 1940s.

Folk art brings vibrant culture and traditions into your home. Browse an extensive collection of folk art on 1stDibs.

Questions About Enamel Opera Glasse
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    No, opera glasses are not the same as binoculars. Although they resemble one another, opera glasses are usually smaller than binoculars and have lower-power optics that do not magnify as much. On 1stDibs, shop a range of antique opera glasses.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Yes, opera glasses work and provide magnification in the range of 3x, sometimes even more. Opera glasses are typically more compact and have an elegance that’s not found in regular binoculars. They’re just what you need to view the stage better during a performance so as not to miss anything. Shop a collection of opera glasses from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    The difference between opera glasses and binoculars relates to their size and optics. Opera glasses are generally smaller and feature low-power optics. They are usually used only for viewing theatrical performances. Larger, more powerful binoculars have a wide range of uses. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of opera glasses and binoculars.