Paganini, Nicolò. (1782–1840)

Paganini's Opera Glass Monocle

A pear-shaped telescoping theatre monocular formerly owned and used by the Italian violinist, violist, guitarist, and composer, the most celebrated violin virtuoso of his time and one the most colorful musical figures of the Romantic era. A three-drawer Galilean telescope of French manufacture, possibly by Lumiere, ca. 1825, constructed of bone and brass, measuring 6 cm closed and expanding to 12 cm when fully extended, the patent "Brevet d'Invention" stamped with raised laurel leaves around the eye-piece, and an exhibition label from the 1940 Mostra Paganiniana Genova XVIII, affixed around the body, inscribed "[Espositore] Barone P. Paganini / [N.] 55 Milano" and with a green label inscribed with the number 44. In very good condition with some opened cracks visible in the body extending under the exposition label, the optics fully functional with a few minor scratches or abrasions, and the telescope opening smoothly.


With remarkable provenance from the collection of the the eldest son of Achilles Paganini, Andrea (1844-1918), by descent through his heirs. For many years this item resided in the collection housed in the Villa Gaione di Parma: first by Achilles, then by his sons Andrea, Attila and Giovanni. In the first half of the 20th century, the Paganini collection was largely dispersed, with portions going to the Italian State (Biblioteca Casanatense in Rome), the Library of Congress in Washington, and to various private collectors. The present item has remained with the heirs until recently, when it was part of the sale of the remaining collection of the heirs of Nicolo Paganini. Sold together with xeroxed documentation from the original sale, this item and its provenance has been reviewed and authenticated by Dr. Maria Rosa Moretti, one of the world's leading authorities on Paganini.


It is interesting to contemplate the figure of Paganini - himself generally the object of intense focus and fascination - employing this fashionable lorgnette to inconspicuously spy on people at the theater and other places he frequented. For a detailed history of the Monocular, see William Rosenthal "Spectacles and Other Vision Aids: A History and Guide to Collecting," p. 138 - 148. (11122)
Ephemera