Eyeglasses/ Sunglasses

Nobody really knows when glasses were “invented” or even who invented them. We do know that early Eskimos or Inuits figured out that wearing glasses with slits kept out snow and prevented ultraviolet keratitis or “snow blindness”. We know the first documented use of eyeglasses in art was in a fresco dated 1352 showing a monk wearing a pair of rivet spectacles, although most experts agree about 1284 was the true invention of eyeglasses, sometimes credited to Roger Bacon, a British philosopher and mathematician.

The oldest eyeglasses in existence today (with provenance), are a pair of rivet spectacles owned by Yoshimasa Ashikaga, Eighth Shogun of Japan, dated 1475. An incomplete pair of rivet spectacles found under the floorboards of the nun’s choir-stalls during the 1953 renovations to Kloster Wienhausen in northern Germany dates to about the same period, maybe a little earlier, but the date is really unknown.

Inuit wearing spectacles to prevent windburn or photokeratitis, also known as snow blindness.

**Shogun Ashikaga’s 15th century spectacles with ivory case, housed in the Daisenin Temple in Kyoto.**

The first piece on our tour is a pair of rivet spectacles, known to be the first pair of glasses ever made. They were typically wood or leather, with less than 50 complete pairs known to exist in the world today. This pair, housed in the museum, is a handcrafted reproduction.

The next objects in The Eyeseum are two pages from incunabula, which are manuscripts printed before 1500. The black and white one on the left is from The Nuremberg Chronicles, an illustrated book depicting the history of the world from the beginning of time until around 1490. It is most notable for containing one of the first depiction of eyeglasses in a printed book. This was printed in 1493, making it the oldest piece in the eyeseum. The hand-painted one on the right is from a “pirated” (unauthorized, as this was before copyright laws) version of the same book. It was published in 1497. Both objects have been authenticated by rare book experts.

**Next is a collection of Inuit (Eskimo) spectacles used to reduce glare and block wind and snow. These date from mid 1800s to early 1900, but have been in use for hundreds of years.** **The one on the left is made from seal skin, the middle from whalebone, and the right from caribou antler.**

Here are a couple of Nuremberg “quizzers”. These were made in the late 1600s to early 1700s. They were mass produced in Germany, from a single strand of wire, and sold by traveling spectacle peddlers. These are from about 1710-1740.

**Here are a couple pairs of Nuremberg spectacles from around the same time period, designed to be worn on one’s nose or held in front of one’s eyes**, also sold by “spectacle peddlers” in the 17th and 18th centuries. These were also made with a single piece of wire.

**These Nuremburg spectacles are signed Jonas Schwartz, Furth, and dated 1740. Furth was a suburb of Nuremberg, Germany, a hub of mass produced spectacles. These are made from copper wire.**

**Actual Dutch etching from the 1700s illustrating a spectacle peddler selling his wares in Holland. This came from a book of engravings published around 1764, and is a copy of an earlier etching.**

So, for about 400 years, mankind used glasses to help them see. And, for 400 years we’re content with holding them, or precariously balancing them on our noses or placing them on a book, or what-not, until one fine spring day in 1714, a British gentleman named Edward Scarlett said, “Man, my arms are tired from holding these things all day”, or something to that effect, and slapped some metal to the sides, and invented temples.

The first pair of temples were made around 1714, by Edward Scarlett in London, England. They are identified by the large round finials (end pieces). This pair of iron spectacles dates from about 1740.

This is a pair of Martin’s Margins. Designed by Benjamin Martin in the 1750s, they were developed to limit light rays, thought at the time to cause vision problems. This pair is made of iron and horn. There is some period repair work done to it. This pair is from about 1757.

**Another Martin’s Margins, with iron case, mid 1700s**

Unusual pair of Martin’s Margins, solid silver, made by H. Walker, Birmingham England, 1800. This has a pivoting lens for additional magnification in front of the left eye. The horn ring is missing from the right lens.

**Double hinged spectacle designed by James Ayscough in 1752, made from steel. James Ayscough is also thought to have invented the tinted lens (sunglasses).** **See below.**

Here is a pair of tinted lenses in an Ayscough frame from the same time period. Many people thought (although not medically documented) that the green tint in the lenses helped to lessen the light sensitivity found in people with syphilis!

Horn rim and brass, China, c.1720. Note the tiny holes on the side, which a loop of thread was put to wrap around the ears to hold them in place. There are some people who claim the Chinese invented eyeglasses.

**Double hinged brass glasses from China, end of 18th century. These have clear tea stone lenses with no prescription, as glasses at that time in China were a symbol of wealth and knowledge.**

**Pair of sterling silver French scissor glasses, with a pair of Griffons holding the lenses, c.1785. These were popular between 1730 and the early 1800’s**.

**Another scissors glasses, tortoiseshell and sterling silver, early 1800s.**

Pair of tortoiseshell spectacles from China, circa 1780. Tortoiseshell was elegant and a sign of wealth and prestige, but was quite fragile and broke easily, so very few remain today. In modern times it has been replaced by cellulose acetate. Tortoiseshell trading and manufacturing was banned in 1974, due to the threatened extinction of the hawksbill sea turtle.

**Pair of wig spectacles made from horn, circa 1800. These were designed with straight temples to slide under the wigs that were popular in the late 1700s-early 1800s**

Ben Franklin invented bifocals in 1784, by taking the top half of a distance lens and the bottom half of a near lens and glueing them together. This pair is from 1792, just 6 years later. Found in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Pair of pewter McAllister spectacles, c. 1820. John McAllister was a Scottish immigrant who sold canes and whips in Philadelphia. Prior to 1796, all eyeglasses in America were imported from Europe. Mr. McAllister saw the need for a spectacle maker and became the first maker of spectacles in the United States. He manufactured glasses for a number of U.S. presidents, Henry Clay, and Chief Justice Tilghman. He is also known as the Father of Eye Care in America.

**McAllister leather case from the early 1800s**

**Pair of sharpshooter glasses from the civil war. The outer part of the lens is opaque, and the color is yellow, both designed to increase contrast and improve accuracy.**

**Rare pair of French “carriage glasses”, worn by railroad workers to block light from the front and sides. These are from about 1874.**

**Pair of French gold quizzing glasses, late 19th century.**

**Adjustable temple brass oval glasses with teardrop finials, places these glasses pre-civil war, around 1840**

**Monocle- worn on one eye. Popular in the early 1900s.**

**Rare pair of clergy glasses, c.1914. Designed so a pastor could read his sermon and look up at his congregation while wearing these on his nose.**

**Here is an American version of carriage glasses from the civil war era.**

Very rare pair of leather and steel arctic snow goggles, c. 1915. A similar pair belonging to William Laird McKinlay who undertook the infamous Canadian National Arctic Expedition from 1913-18, are housed in the National Library of Scotland and can be viewed here http://www.nls.uk/learning-zone/geography-and-exploration/scotts-last-expedition/equipment

**Unusual pair of pearl diving glasses from museum in Philippines, c. 1960**

These are called ‘pince-nez’ glasses, which is French for pinched nose. They are designed to be worn on the end of one’s nose while staying on with “grippers”. Teddy Roosevelt wore a pair very similar to these around the turn of the 20th century.

**Here is another pair of pince-nez called Oxfords, as they were popular with the girls at Oxford University. These glasses have the word Oxford inscribed under the bridge**.

**Pair of Willson driving glasses, with cobalt lenses on top to cut glare from the sun, c.1920**

**Hand carved ivory lorgnette. A lorgnette is a handheld foldable pair of glasses often used at the opera or sporting events. This pair is from the early 1900s**

**Tortoiseshell design lorgnette, made from cellulose acetate, circa 1930**

In 1888, August Morck invented a bifocal that just glues to the outside of the distance lens. One is made of crown glass, the other out of flint glass. This was the first change to the Franklin bifocal in almost 100 years. Note the yellowing of glue after 140 years.

**Pair of Harold Lloyd glasses, made from bakelite, around 1917. Harold Lloyd was one of the most defining comedians in the roaring 20s, along with Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin.**

Pair of WWII flying glasses (well worn!), with standard issue box. Made by Polaroid corporation. Dated 1944.