Book review: Antique Spectacle Cases

Gary Conway’s daughter told him that a book on spectacle cases would not be a best seller the author informs us in the opening leaves of Antique Spectacle Cases, but it’s clear that Conway’s motivation for bringing the book to publication was not fame and fortune.

It is the author’s enthusiasm which drives this tome along. This verve is matched only by the breadth of spectacle, lorgnette, quizzer and eyeglass cases contained within its 102 generously illustrated pages.

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The book is a browser's delight. Anyone with an interest in optical antiques or decorative jewellery will struggle to resist the urge to see what the next page holds. Antique Spectacle Cases romps through, rather than chronicles precious, artistic and interesting cases from around the world predominantly from the 19^th century.