JR, I think what you need is a small meniscus lens wide open. A meniscus (i.e. simple) lens can give a sharp image in the center area, with sharpness falling off rapidly away from that (see some examples in the first post here:
http://www.largeformatphotography.in...rialism-Images). We use a lot of lenses like that, but normally ones that cover the format we shoot. What you need to do is find a simple lens that doesn't cover the format. Easiest might be an old lens in shutter from which you can remove the front element, perhaps the lens from a folder. Alternatively, start checking the image circle of small magnifying glasses until you find one with the right size, then mount that in cardboard and tape it over a shutter.
Best of luck, and let us know how it goes!
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