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Vintage Instrument for an Old-Time Opthamologist/Optometrist/Optician...Auto-Visiomètre
The official definition of Folk
Art includes items that originated as Tools of the Trade, but in this case, there's no question
that this instrument used by nineteenth century eye specialists truly is a
piece of art...so we're listing it on both of those links...
It's called an Auto-Visiomètre...and
is a
circa 1850 optometer invented by Desage...it is what the well-equipped eye doctor used in
the nineteenth
century.
Used to examine each eye
individually as well as to determine the patients' proper prescription for
eyeglasses, it folded up for travel...forming its own elegant and compact
walnut carrying case.
The walnut case measures 18.675 inches high, 10.675 inches wide, and 3.75
inches deep...including the hardware, the depth measures 4.25 inches.
It opens to measure 21.675 inches deep...the portion with the bellows
extending out 11.875 inches.
The instrument is still fully functional...it contains twenty-five lenses of
graduating strength for each eye...fifty lens in all. Each eye can
also be measured at 0...that is without any lens. The lenses range from
-.75 to -10 for nearsighted prescriptions and +.75 to +8 for those who are
farsighted. Here's an interior view of the lenses...
The patient reads the chart housed within the unit...
...while the doctor turns a dial to change the lenses through which the
patient is looking...the chart is labeled for viewing distances ranging
from 5 meters to 50 meters.
In addition to being a
serious medical instrument, it manages to delight with the
"funny face" formed by the combination of the wood and bronze elements on
the front. The walnut case was crafted with meticulous join work and
handled the rigors of travel with minimal effects after all these
years...the back and one side has small areas where some of the wood is missing. There is
one small tear in the bellows and some small bits of hardware that are
missing...including two of the case's protective "feet", but considering its age
and use, it is in excellent condition...all fifty lenses are intact.
The inventor, Desage, was French
and a plaque on the front asks the patient to approach as closely as
possible...
...this is the deluxe model, and includes an area that recedes to allow
for a precise reading in those instances when the patient's nose is a bit on the generous side...
The doctor could then examine
the patients' eyes and if eyeglasses were necessary, change the selected lens
for each eye individually by turning the dial...separate dials for each set of
lenses. I tested it and it still works to perfection...it recommended the
same strength lenses that my eye doctor's new-fangled computerized machine
did...only with a more interesting and humorous sense of style.
The "mouth" of the face is
formed by the patent registration.
Rare to find something that is sculptural
and scientific in the same package! Hinged Caliper...Maître à Danser
In general, this type of
measuring device is known as a caliper...the earliest existing example of
which dates to the sixth century B.C. and is of Greek origin. This
specific form has a nickname among the wood and metal workers of France...maître
à danser. The upper portion said to resemble the outstretched
arms of a dancer and the lower section, the "legs and feet". It was used
to measure both the interior and exterior of an object...the upper portion
for the exterior and the lower for the interior...for example, determining
the diameter of a tube. It was used by craftsmen and sculptors working in
metal and wood...including clockmakers. Crafted of steel and dating from
the latter part of the nineteenth century-beginning of the twentieth
century, it measures 8.125 inches in length.
Hinged
Caliper...Compas d'intérier
Again, calipers have been around
for a long time...the earliest example yet found from Greece and dating
from the sixth century B.C. This type of caliper is used to measure
the exterior and interior of an object. The "legs" pivot allowing the
tool's "feet" to measure both inside and outside dimensions. This
particular example has comical shapely gams and is wearing "shoes". It was
crafted of steel in the latter part of the nineteenth century-beginning of
the twentieth century and measures 6.3125 inches in length.
Vintage Agriculture-Livestock
Awards...Plaques de Concours
In years gone
by, if you were traveling throughout the French countryside, you may have
come across an example of this type of metal plaque displayed proudly on the
exterior of a cattle enclosure, on the side of a chicken coop, or in a
butcher shop window and wondered...what is the meaning of these interesting and
decorative plaques?
They
are awards...given in recognition of the raising of an outstanding pigeon,
cow, hen, etc...something on the order of the blue ribbons that are given
out at American livestock shows.
This is
our local Parisian boucherie or butcher shop. When Jean-Paul
purchases a prize-winning animal at a livestock auction, as the
new owner, he also receives the awards that had been won by that
particular animal...
...and these he displays in his windows so that his clients know that they
are choosing from among the the crème de la crème of products.
Jean-Paul's awards are new...but we have a wonderful selection of vintage
plaques de concours in all sorts of designs and shapes:
The
oldest dates from 1914 and is made of zamak...a zinc-based alloy containing zinc,
magnesium and copper.
It represents the 1st Prize for the category of
young female cows of the Charollais breed. It measures 3.875 inches high,
not including the hanging screw, 7.5 inches wide, and .1875 of an inch
thick. When the piece was originally made, the screw was left exposed and
is now rusty; the rest of the plaque is in great condition...just some
good ol' honest farm crud.
Next is
a wonderful 1st Prize award in the form of a shield and dated 1975.
It is
aluminum...as are all of the ones that follow...and represented the Grand
Prize of France in the town of Le Bourget, but I have no idea for what the
prize was awarded. Le Bourget is not far from Paris and is famous for
being the location of the airport where Charles Lindbergh landed the
Spirit of Saint Louis in 1927, but I don't know anything about that area's
agricultural specialty during the 70s. It measures 3.5625 inches high, 3.1875
inches wide, and .1875 of an inch deep. Fabulous condition!
Also
from 1975 and painted to resemble a blue ribbon...
...this one was presented by the SCAF...the Société Centrale d'Aviculture
de France...an organization concerned with animals that the French
describe as being of the basse-cour...including roosters and
chickens, ducks and geese, pheasants and rabbits, etc. The ship with the
fleur-de-lys is a representation of the symbol of Paris. It measures 6.125
inches high, 3.25 inches wide, and .1875 of an inch thick. Wonderful
patina, with a bit of the decorative paint rubbed off in raised areas.
...this
one was given out by the same organization...
...but one year later...in 1976. It measures the same...6.125 inches high,
3.25 inches wide, and .1875 of an inch thick. It also has a wonderful
patina, with a bit of the decorative paint rubbed off in raised areas.
...from
Caen in Normandy...
...a prize given in 1980 by the Société Nationale de
Colombiculture...a group concerned with the raising of pigeons. It measures
4.5 inches high, 6.675 inches wide, and .1875 of an inch thick.
Distinctive form with some rubbing to the raised areas.
Representing first place awards given in 1983 by different organizations
and for different categories...
...one with a rooster with an orange background...it measures 5.5 inches
high, 3.125 inches wide, and .1875 of an inch deep. There's a bit of loss
to the background paint
...one
with a rooster with a blue background...this one measures 5.5625 inches
high, 3.25 inches wide, and .1875 of an inch thick; small amount of paint
loss to the background
...and
one with a stylistic rendition of several farm animals. It measures 5.5
inches high, 3.25 inches wide, and .1875 of an inch thick; minor loss to
paint in raised areas
...the
prize awarded at the 1984 Exposition Inernationale d'Aviculture...
...has a
brownish-gold background. It measures 5.5625 inches high, 3.25 inches
wide, and .1875 of an inch thick. Great condition
...and
two awards from 1985, one with a gold background...
...it measures 5.5625 inches high, 3.1875 inches wide, and .1875 of an
inch thick; a bit of paint loss to background
...and
one with a blue background...
...it measures 5.5625 inches high, 3.25 inches wide, and .1875 of an inch
thick; slight bit of loss to background paint
Individually or as a
grouping...they provide a decorative touch of inspiration to both
professional butchers and household cooks.
(We've also included them in our Culinary Antiques link).
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