Description: A pair of chrome and mother of pearl opera glasses. Select pieces of Mop applied to the barrels, eyepieces and adjustment wheel. Hallmarked on the eyepieces is, "The HARVEY & LEWIS Co USA". The framework is stamped, 'FRANCE".


History: Harvey & Lewis Opticians opened its doors on February 8th 1890. The company founders – Foster Harvey and Robert H. Lewis were clerks in the haberdashery business (men’s clothing) at the time. Although it was born in the middle of a severe recession, the company was quickly a success and expanded to include stores in New Haven and Springfield given that cities were the major shopping destination of the day. Throughout the teens and 20’s Harvey & Lewis continued to expand, moving their Hartford operation to Main Street across from the Sage Allen building. The narrow store front was enhanced with a vertical sign made of a giant eyeglass frame and the company name climbing the side of the building. By 1929, the company had six stores in Hartford, New Britain, New Haven, Bridgeport, Springfield and Worcester. The two businessmen commissioned a building to be erected on the corner of State and Main Streets. The site was in the heart of downtown Hartford across from the Old State House where State House Square currently exists. Seven stories tall, it was one of the earliest Art Deco design buildings in the nation. On the second level, overlooking the crowds of pedestrians that were an ever-present fixture at the time, the building had four whimsical gargoyles each with a product sold at the store – binoculars, sunglasses, a camera and a broken pair of glasses.

Provenance: FL Estate


Dimensions: Weight (Pounds & Ounces) = 0.425 | Height(in) = 2.125 | Width(in) = 4 | Depth(in) = 1.5

Size of Artwork(in): 2.125 x 4 x 1.5"


Artist Name: Harvey & Lewis Co.


Medium: Mop, Chrome


Circa: Circa 1900

Very good working condition with clear clean lenses.