Mary Lincoln’s Lorgnette

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Object Details

associated person

Lincoln, Mary Todd

Description

Lorgnettes popular for use at the theater and opera to help the viewer see the stage as well as for magnification. They were as much a piece of jewelry as a vision aid. Mary Lincoln’s 14 karat gold lorgnette is engraved with her initials, ML. The markings on the handle indicate that the lorgnette was purchased from James E. Caldwell of Philadelphia. Caldwell trained as a silversmith and a watchmaker in New York and opened his first jewelry store in Philadelphia in 1839. The name was eventually changed to J.E. Caldwell & Co. and operated in Philadelphia until the early 2000s.

Credit Line

Gift of Lincoln Isham

ID Number

PL.278039.01

catalog number

278039.01

accession number

278039

Object Name

Lorgnette

Physical Description

glass (overall material)

metal, gold (overall material)

associated place

United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

See more items in

Political History: Political History, White House/First Ladies Collection

Exhibition

First Ladies

Exhibition Location

National Museum of American History

Data Source