(2) Vintage Lorgnette Folding Glasses with Tortoiseshell Effect. 

A pair of vintage folding cat-eye glasses. These glasses are characterized by their distinctive shape, with the lenses tapering upwards towards the temples. They were particularly popular in the mid-20th century. The frames have a tortoiseshell effect and fold at the nose, fitting into the handle. 

An antique or vintage pair of lorgnette glasses. A lorgnette is a pair of spectacles with a handle, used to hold them in place, rather than fitting over the ears or nose. It is a type of handheld magnifying glass, often used in the 19th and early 20th centuries. They were commonly used to discreetly examine one's appearance or read small print. 

Size (larger): 7 x 1 in. 

Size (smaller): 6 x 4 1/2 in. 

#7520 . 

A lorgnette is a pair of spectacles with a handle, used to hold them in place, rather than fitting over the ears or nose. The word lorgnette is derived from the French lorgner, meaning “to take a sidelong look at,” and Middle French from lorgne, meaning “squinting.” Their precise origin is debated: some sources describe English scientist George Adams the elder as their inventor, while others cite his son George Adams the younger. The lorgnette was usually used as a piece of jewelry, rather than to enhance vision. Fashionable ladies usually preferred them to spectacles. These were very popular at masquerade parties and used often at the opera, particularly in the 19th Century.