Binoculars (field glasses) c. 1912

These binoculars and case were made by F. Davidson & Co. around 1910, and they’re all about seeing—making the distant feel near. The leather case has this worn, crinkled texture, and a warm, caramel color, kind of like an old baseball glove. You can almost smell the leather, right? The binoculars themselves are black, sleek, and industrial. Look at the contrast between the organic, worn case and the smooth, precise instrument. Focus on that buckle. It's like a tiny face, all weathered and worn. It tells a story of use and time, doesn’t it? Makes me think of Man Ray's "Électricité" photographs, where everyday objects become surreal portraits through light and shadow. It’s as if these binoculars aren't just for seeing the world, but for seeing into the past, the kind of looking that gives rise to thought, to images. That’s what art does, too.