Ontwerp voor een lorgnet van hoorn, met rood geëmailleerde bloemen c. 1900 - 1904

Editor: This is "Ontwerp voor een lorgnet van hoorn, met rood geëmailleerde bloemen," a design for a lorgnette with red enameled flowers by René Lalique, dating to around 1900-1904. It's watercolor and drawing on paper. It looks so fragile. What whispers do you hear when you look at this, how would you interpret this work? Curator: Well, for starters, I imagine this as a portal to a bygone era of elegance and bespoke craftsmanship. It makes me think of ladies in long gloves, opera houses, and the soft rustle of silk. But beyond the romantic veneer, I see Lalique’s fascination with the natural world, those flowers bursting forth. They are delicate but also subtly erotic. And the horn, it’s grounding this fantasy, no? It’s a little touch of earthly reality against all the dreamy aspiration. Editor: Subtly erotic, that's a new one. I can see how the horn brings an earthy grounding. What were these glasses even used for, and what does that mean about its cultural impact? Curator: They weren’t exactly your everyday eyewear! Lorgnettes were primarily a fashion accessory, and secondarily a vision aid. They were a statement, a way of framing your gaze, and thus your world. In Lalique’s hands, it transcends function. Do you feel like that is a way to frame one's gaze upon their life or something deeper? Editor: A statement piece for your eyes... how decadent. It feels like, rather than seeing, it’s *being* seen that matters. That contrast is so thought provoking, thank you. Curator: It is exactly about being seen, but if that's the truth then the only question remaining is by whom? It has been a pleasure reflecting together.