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 19th century.
There are few pages which fail to leave the reader wanting more. The 31 chapters start by grouping the cases, first by material, then switching to decorative technique and latterly by countries and genre.
Classification of the subject was clearly a difficult task for the author whose selections nevertheless carry a certain logic. This is understandable given the scope of the subject whose materials range from scrap to precious metal and whose manufacture range from master jeweller to native. The author’s approach to description carries more rigour. Each case is dated and its country of origin and material noted. Conway’s descriptions are, in places, tantalising brief, but workmanlike in the details provided. The occasional provenance or historical pearl make the book an easy, informative and entertaining read.
It is perhaps the imagery which makes Antique Spectacle Cases such a page-turner. As the leaves turn so does the scope of the book. Alongside the expected ivory, shell, wood, leather and precious metals are less expected materials such as whale, bone, teeth and baleen, straw and shark skin.
The workmanship within many of the collections is a delight. Delicately engraved cases, cloisonné and champlevé metalwork nestle alongside more rudimentary techniques. It’s not difficult to imagine sailors on long voyages etching a whale bone case to create a scrimshaw piece for a sweetheart. Embroidery is another popular pastime applied to case construction as is Native American beading, Chinese beading and silks, Japanese Neillo engraving and Komai damascene.
For pure skill the section on bejewelled cases and intricately worked precious metals breath taking as is the section on hand painted pieces. These offer a fascinating insight into the life and times of the spectacle wearers. Portraits and country scenes are particular favourites. The author rounds of the book with a glimpse at potential antiques of the future, souvenirs and a novelty case disguised as a book.
Antique Spectacle Cases is by no means a top-shelf publication but one notable section is entitled erotic. These cases are generally hand painted saucy scenes, clearly popular in Germany in the mid-19th century. One of the few examples of a case using early photography also falls into this category and dates from 1920s England.
The overriding impression Antique Spectacle Cases leaves is of the variety of spectacle cases from earlier eras and the quality of workmanship lavished on them. This perhaps says more about the greater permanence of the humble spectacle case, and spectacles in years gone by. Today’s consumer society has, by and large, resigned the spectacle case to a semi-disposable, at best novelty, item. Antique Spectacle Cases provides glimpse into a world where possessions were few but highly valued and where workmanship provided the individualisation customers still crave today.
Antique Spectacle Cases is available from gary@cobhampark.plus.com at £40.
