Through out the 19th and 20th century opera glasses were in popular use for the wealthy. It was a very fashionable pasttime to visit the opera and ballet, and a fine pair of opera glasses would be a necessity. For ladies these came in several materials, from mother of pearl and silver, to very fine enamelled glasses. For gentleman these would be more robust and were usually covered in various leathers and could sometimes double up as field glasses.
 
These glasses would have been suitable for either the opera or for field glasses. They are covered in leather with an impressed design to emulate snakeskin (very exotic for the time). The optic lense can be adjusted by the wheel on the centre bar. The optic tubes are made from brass and the eye pieces have a silver plated finish. They would have been used by a reasonaably wealthy person of the time.
 
The leather is in good condition, the optics work well, on the frame of the bottom lenses there are a couple of minor dinges. On the eye piece there is a little loss of black paint, but overall in good working condition and of smart appearence.
 
Dimensions when closed: 10cm x 7cm high.