A superb pair of late 19th century Shibayama Palais Royal opera glasses in mother of pearl. Wonderfully decorated with exotic pheasants, peony and bamboo. The Shibayama technique was named after Shibayama Dosho, who introduced it in Japan in the 18th century. It was used exclusively on items for import to the West. Shibayama is the art of semiprecious stones, shell, turtleshell etc inlayed on lacquer and ivory pieces. The items decorated in the Shibayama style range from vases, boxes and table-screens to swords and entire ivory tusks. However he cannot be said to have invented it, but, as has been observed of many other Japanese applied arts, the perfecting of the method was mistaken for its origin. This pair signed La Fontaine, Opticien, 18 Palais Royal Paris France circa 1880 10cm Wide by 6.5cm High and 4cm Deep