Lornet is ... Lornet: description, history and application

The life of any modern person is somehow connected with the science of antiquity. No wonder: history is a living memory, a teacher of life, as Cicero said. In addition, masterpieces of world art, whether they are literary works or creations of painting, interest the society more and more over time. Cultural education can not but rejoice, but much still remains incomprehensible. First of all, this refers to obsolete words.

What is a lorgnette?

Often, studying a painting or novel of the eighteenth century, you can see a small detail: almost everywhere there is an image or description of small glasses with a pen. Eugene Onegin looked askance through this device to unknown ladies, and the artist K. V. Lebedev painted in his painting "Auction in the XVIII century." The old man, who was staring at something with the help of unseen glasses. Such a device, unaccustomed to the eye of modern man, is called a lorgnette.

So, the lorgnette is folding goggles equipped with a handle for ease of use. In the time interval between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, this device enjoyed great popularity in a secular society. Because of the craving for knowledge, representatives of the upper classes constantly read, and not always in good light. Gentle ladies and handsome men were shy of their own shortsightedness, but ordinary glasses were considered bad form - then the lorgnette came to the rescue.

How does it look?

Lornet is a fairly simple mechanism: it consists of a handle, in the middle of which there is a slot. In it, and "hide" the lens. The handle is equipped with a metal ring, which is attached to the chain located on the neck. Thus, the optical device was always with the owner and everyone in sight.

Of course, in fact, the lorgnette - it's glasses, even if not quite like them. But secular society in every subject that they used and that anyone could notice saw only an accessory. This fate could not be avoided and the lorgnette. Masters-jewelers tried for the benefit of wealthy customers: in the course were even the most expensive and rare materials.

Ornament of the lorgnette

Mainly decorated handle - it was made of ivory or mother-of-pearl. The finish of the frame corresponded to the handle. In cases where the accessory belonged to especially important persons, the lorgnettes were decorated with precious stones and monograms - this was considered a sign of the nobility. A special luxury is a golden frame, but most of the cream of society could not afford it.

The richest people in the world could make themselves lorgnettes, which cost a fortune. So there was a device made of platinum, decorated with diamonds and sapphires. There was a miracle of jewelry art to Princess Lyubov-Rostov, and created his famous for the whole world, Louis Cartier, the founder of his own fashion house. But the princess was not the only lover of luxury: Prince Felix used a lorgnette with 442 diamonds.

Particular attention was paid to cases. The ladies used fabric covers covered with beads. It is interesting that in the women's handbags of that time there was often a special place for such a cover.

How to use a lorgnette?

The instruments were worn differently: men - in a pocket or on a vest chain, women - on a belt, neck chain or even on bracelets that adorned the wrist. Over time, the role of the fan, which was used for coquetry, replaced the lorgnette. The glasses showed the cavalier an interest in his person and prompted the reciprocal feelings.

Despite the ingenuity of court coquette, the main purpose of using fashion glasses was good eyesight. Without sufficient orientation in space, VIPs risked losing their status and earning a bad reputation. It is necessary not to recognize the familiar general, for example, how the whole society began to whisper venomously-and this, perhaps, is the most terrible of all that could happen to a representative of the nobility.

Types of lorgnettes

Despite the prevailing idea that any glasses consist of two lenses, this is not entirely true, the lorgnette refutes this. In addition to the form habitual for a modern person, this optical device could consist of a single lens. Such specimens were more like a magnifying glass. There were also lorgnettes without a handle; In the future they formed a new fashion - for monocles.

History of the origin of the lorgnette

Theories of the emergence of a fashionable device are several. As is often the case, the scientists broke into two camps. Some believe that a lorgnette was born in the fifteenth century, when someone turned over ordinary glasses "upside down." Over time, the eyepieces that were not convenient to use got a handle, and then they acquired a familiar look. This version is proved by an ancient miniature depicting a man in strange inverted glasses.

The opinion of opponents of such an unusual method of invention is radically opposite. Scientists believe that the lorgnette is the result of the work of George Adams, who became famous for his numerous discoveries and inventions in the field of optics. According to this version, at the end of the eighteenth century, Adams decided once and for all to end the problem of ugly glasses. So there was an exquisite, but such a useful accessory.

Whatever it was, what a lorgnette, at the time of balls and luxury knew everything. It was enjoyed even by the great emperor who defeated Napoleon, Alexander the First. Since childhood, embarrassed by his short-sightedness, the young sovereign always carried the device in the sleeve of his uniform, and, by the way, often lost it.

The application of the word "lorgnette" in the present tense

The twenty-first century was called the century of technology for good reason. Now, the complex mechanisms for manufacturing optical instruments have reduced the problem of poor vision to no. Contact lenses make it possible to see the world around you perfectly, the centers of vision correction restore health and normal functioning of the eyes. Against the background of large-scale technical progress, even glasses have become a rarity. What can we say about the lorgnette!

However, there are still references to the device. Poets and writers gave descendants a clear idea of the indispensability of this accessory. Without the necessary knowledge of its history and application to understand the correct meaning of certain scenes will not work, no matter how hard you try. But what to do with the information obtained?

Anyone who has full knowledge of some of the terms that come out of the lexicon will always find use for them. The status of an intelligent person does not need explanations, he will always find respect and recognition among colleagues at work or close friends. In addition, the expanded horizon has never hindered anyone, because the brain must be kept in a constant tone.

Of course, there is nowhere to use an irrelevant term, except at exhibitions or in an art gallery. But this is more of a plus than a minus, because there is an occasion to visit the museum once again! Thus, the understanding of how the lorgnette was used (determining what an obsolete word means) to an informed person will be extremely beneficial.

Why should I know about the lorgnette?

Even in the age of technology, one should not forget the meaning of a word. Lornet, though gone into history, still remembered an important attribute of secular society. Without him, ladies did not go out, and men did not imagine a normal existence. The importance of this device in the world of solemn luxury makes modern people take a lorgnette as an integral part of the forever-gone era, as its symbol. In order to sincerely imbued with the spirit of the time, and you need to remember what a lorgnette is.