CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: These spectacle frames could not be of a simpler construction. They are stamped or molded one- piece white metal glasses and are about Bleuette size. Once the temples are bent to fit a particular doll, there could be no further adjustment, or the metal would break. There is a pattern on one side of the metal. The other side is completely flat with no design. Of course, there are no lenses. This crudely made pair of pince-nez has oval lenses although round lenses are more commonly found on these toy spectacles. This pair was made from about 1870 to 1885. They are tinned steel wrapped around flat glass. These spectacles were made for children to play with...not to wear to correct eyesight. The scaling is perfect so that a photo of this pair, without a reference to size, could be mistaken for an adult pair of spectacles from the same time period. These glasses are about 2-3/4-inches wide. These three pairs of tiny glasses have unusual cobalt blue lenses. The top pair is perhaps a tie tack or lapel pin and not actually a pair of doll spectacles...more likely a promotional piece. The bent clasp is a forerunner of the little circular clasp on modern jewelry. It was probably made from about 1870-1880 by a person skilled in the making of spectacles. The other two pairs are pince-nez with blue lenses. Tinted lenses, like these cobalt blue lenses, were not considered " sunglasses " as we use them today but were used to cut the amount of light reaching weak or injured eyes. These two beautiful examples are both exquisitely constructed. It is unknown whether they were made for a doll or for an exhibition. The center example is an exceptionally well-crafted pair, even having specially ground glass that is curved like a watch crystal. Both use a spring-type nose bridge that would have been found on human-sized pince-nez. Shown here is an incredible French pince-nez made for a French Fashion type doll. The glass lenses are put into the pince-nez with screws, showing a high degree of technical ability. The double pins have small gold cubes for pinheads and have chains attached. The pins are used to attach the piece to the doll's clothing and is completely unlike anything seen on comparable human vision aids. The pince-nez measures about 1-1/4-inches from lens to lens. DOLL NEWS * UFDC.ORG 37http://ufdc.org