Opera glasses and case belonging to Etta Moten Barnett

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

These are opera glasses (a) in a case (b). The opera glasses are gold and black with black crystals covering the body of the glasses and the attached handle. The attached handle is hinged so that it can be folded flat along the glasses. The objective lenses, bell and bridge are gold. The bridge does not hinge. The eye cups are black. The focus wheel is white. There is text carved into the bridge that reads “MIGNON 25X.” The case (b) is black satin with a black beaded exterior, that closes with a gold snap. The largest compartment holds the opera glasses. There are multiple smaller interior compartments that close with a gold magnetic fastener. Sewn into the smallest pocket is a white fabric tag with gold text that reads " MADE IN JAPAN / by hand / SCHILDKRAUT BROS."

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