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Lot 157Ф,Y

A RARE SILVER MOUNTED SPY-GLASS NÉCESSAIRE,
English, mid-18th century,

23 February 2022, 11:00 GMT
London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £1,147.50 inc. premium

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A RARE SILVER MOUNTED SPY-GLASS NÉCESSAIRE, English, mid-18th century,

probably made by Thomas Ribright, fishskin cover with silver mounts and sliding cover to the eyepiece and objective, the lid sliding off to reveal the necessaire engraved on the mount BY YE KINGS ROYAL PATENT, fitted with tortoiseshell mounted knife, tweezers, ear scoop, pencil, scissors and ivory note leaf,
4in (10cm) long

Footnotes

The optician Thomas Ribright patented a perspective glass and instruments in 1749. A gold mounted spy-glass and necessaire signed by Ribright and with an identical patent inscription was sold by Christie's as Lot 6, 22 May 2001, for £15,275.

Please note that from 19 January 2022, items containing ivory cannot be imported into the EU. The import of ivory into the USA and China is already prohibited.

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