Quizzing (quizzer) spectacles, gold plated, ornately embellished, in snap lid leather case, French, 1800-1820

Quizzing glasses were popular in the 1700s and 1800s. This type of quizzer glass has a ring at the end to attach the spectacle to a cord or a ribbon. This was then worn around the neck, so the glass was readily available. The quizzer glass has a short, gold-plated handle and a small lens. The ornate decoration and use of gold plate indicate a wealthy owner wanting to make a fashion statement.

Spectacles were increasingly common in the 1700s. Designs such as the quizzer spectacle allowed wealthier and elite members of society to distinguish themselves from the lower classes.