June 2008 - Nélys Nose Pads
What you see here is a pair of nose-grip liners (pads) for the type of spring-clip pince-nez which were very popular in 1921. In fact, you are actually looking at the original outer retail packaging. The pads, together with an explanatory leaflet, are contained within. The pads themselves are a little small to make an interesting photograph.
The line drawing on the upper surface of the packet shows a rimless oval pair of pince-nez, but it's the bit in between the lenses, the so-called 'fingerpiece' clip, that matters.
The rubber pads went on the upper bit of the plaquets as indicated by the arrows on the drawing. It can be quite funny looking at photographs of antique pince-nez where the object is upside down because the photographer assumed that the pads should be lowermost. These pads rendered the pressure from the spring softer on the skin and permitted a very sure grip even when the wearer perspired, thus avoiding them falling off....an occupational hazard for all pince-nez wearers! The pads were intended to be changed regularly and judging by the large number of antiques we see with the nose pads missing, the owner probably didn't need much of a reminder to replace them.
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