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, the masterpieces of world art, whether it be literary works or creations of painting, are more and more interested in society over time. Cultural education cannot but rejoice, but much remains incomprehensible. This primarily concerns obsolete words.
What is lorgnette?
Often, studying a picture or novel of the eighteenth century, you can notice a small detail: almost everywhere there is an image or a description of small glasses with a pen. Eugene Onegin squinted through this device at unknown ladies, and the artist K.V. Lebedev depicted in his painting "Auction in the XVIII century." an old man staring at something with unprecedented glasses. Such a device, unusual for the eye of a modern person, is called a lorgnet.
So, lornet is a folding glasses equipped with a handle for ease of use. In the period between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, this device was very popular in secular society. Due to the general desire 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 lorgnette came to the rescue.
What does it look like?
Lornet is a fairly simple mechanism: it consists of a handle, in the middle of which there is a gap. In it lenses also "hide". The handle is equipped with a metal ring, which is attached to a chain located on the neck. Thus, the optical device was always with the owner and in plain sight.
Of course, in essence lorgnet - these are glasses, albeit not quite similar to them. But secular society in every subject that was used by them and which anyone could notice, saw only an accessory. This fate could not be avoided and lorgnet. Master jewelers tried for the benefit of wealthy customers: even the most expensive and rare materials were used.
Lornet's Ornament
The pen was mainly decorated - it was made of ivory or mother of pearl. The frame trim matched the handle. In cases where the accessory belonged to especially important persons, lornets were decorated with precious stones and monograms - this was considered a sign of nobility. A special luxury is the golden frame, but most of the cream of society could not afford it.
The richest people in the world could make themselves lornets, which cost a fortune. So there was a device made of platinum, decorated with diamonds and sapphires. The miracle of jewelry belonged to Princess Lyubova-Rostova, and created by the world-famous Louis Cartier, the founder of his own fashion house. But the princess was not the only lover of luxury: Prince Felix used a lorgnet with 442 diamonds.
Particular attention was paid to the cases. Ladies used beaded fabric covers. Interestingly, in women's handbags of that time, a special place was often provided for such a cover.
How was lornet used?
They wore devices in different ways: men - in a pocket or on a vest chain, women - on a belt, a neck chain or even on bracelets that adorned the wrist. Over time, the role of the fan, which was used for coquetry, replaced the lorgnet. The glasses showed the cavalier an interest in his person and encouraged reciprocal feelings.
Despite the resourcefulness of court coquets, the main purpose of using fashionable glasses was good vision. Without sufficient orientation in space, high-ranking officials risked losing their status and gaining a bad reputation. It is worth not recognizing the familiar general, for example, how the whole society began to whisper poisonously - and this is perhaps the worst of all that could happen to a representative of the nobility.
Types of Lornets
Despite the prevailing idea that any glasses consist of two lenses, this is not entirely true; lorgnet refutes this. In addition to the usual form of modern man, this optical device could consist of one lens. Such instances looked more like a magnifier. There were also lorents without a pen; in the future they formed a new fashion - for monocles.
The history of lornet
There are several theories of the appearance of a fashionable device. As often happens, scientists were divided into two camps. Some believe that lorgnette was born in the fifteenth century, when someone turned the usual glasses upside down. Over time, the inconvenient to use eyepieces acquired a pen, and then acquired the usual look. This version is proved by an ancient miniature, which depicts a man with strange inverted glasses.
The opinion of opponents of such an unusual method of the invention is radically opposite. Scientists believe that lornet is the result of the work of George Adams, who became famous for his many 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.
Be that as it may, what is lorgnet, at the time of balls and luxury, everyone knew. Even the great emperor who defeated Napoleon, Alexander the First, used it. Since childhood, shy of his shortsightedness, the young sovereign always wore a device in the sleeve of his uniform, and, by the way, often lost it.
The use of the word "lornet" in the present tense
The twenty-first century was called the age of technology for good reason. Now complex mechanisms for the manufacture of optical devices have reduced the problem of poor vision to nothing. Contact lenses allow you to see the world around you perfectly, vision correction centers restore the health and normal functioning of the eyes. Against the backdrop of large-scale technological progress, even glasses have become a rarity. What can we say about lorgnet!
However, references to the device are still found. Poets and writers left their descendants a clear idea of the indispensability of this accessory. Without the necessary knowledge of its history and application, understanding the correct meaning of some scenes will not work, no matter how hard you try. But what to do with the information received?
Anyone who has complete information about 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 explanation; he will always find respect and recognition among his work colleagues or close friends. In addition, the broader horizons have never bothered anyone, because the brain must be kept in constant tone.
Of course, 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 reason to visit the museum again! Thus, an understanding of how the lornet was used (the definition of what an outdated word means) to an informed person will bring only benefit.
Why know about lorgnet?
Even in the age of technology, one must not forget the meaning of the word. Lornet, although it has gone down in history, is still remembered as an important attribute of secular society. Without him, the ladies did not come out, and men could not imagine a normal existence. The importance of this device in the world of solemn luxury makes modern people accept lornet as an integral part of an era that has forever passed, as its symbol. In order to sincerely imbued with the spirit of that time, and you need to remember that such a lorg.