Lot 10: An Art Nouveau Style Cast Brass Letter Rack and a Pair of Vintage Opera Glasses
A lot comprising a cast brass letter rack and a pair of brass opera glasses. The brass letter rack is designed in the Art Nouveau style, featuring double compartments with an openwork grapevine motif including clusters of fruit and broad leaves. The foliate design extends to the integral base, which terminates in a scalloped edge. The interior floor of the rack shows a textured, stippled finish. A small orange adhesive label reading 10 is affixed to the right side of the base. The opera glasses are constructed of brass with black composition eyepieces and a central knurled focusing wheel. The barrels are finished with a textured black covering. No maker’s marks, signatures, or country of origin stamps are visible on either item.
Condition report:
The letter rack exhibits heavy surface patination and verdigris, particularly within the recessed areas of the openwork foliage (photo 1). There is general tarnishing across all brass surfaces (photo 2). The opera glasses show significant wear to the exterior barrel coverings with substantial losses to the textured surface, exposing the underlying metal (photo 3). The metal components of the glasses exhibit surface pitting and oxidation (photo 3). Dust and internal debris are visible on the lenses.
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