The origins of wooden glasses

Increasingly, more and more of us cannot resist choosing a lifestyle and a look which are both sustainable and different to the mainstream. Wooden glasses saw a spectacular boom little more than four years ago. In fact, according to Google Trends, searches for the term 'Wooden Glasses' have seen a threefold increase since 2010!

However, the real surprise here is that wooden glasses were born in the 13th century. They were not as well known as the glasses nowadays, but they were an approximation: a rim made from wood or shell, around 2 cut glass lenses attached with rivets.

Only the glassblowers of Venice – Murano – knew how to make clear glass, and that would suggest that the Italians invented prescription glasses.

Initially, they were designed only for just one eye, and the elaborative art soon extended to Florence. It was the Middle Ages, and wearing eyeglasses suggested wisdom and extensive studies. In any case, it was not until 1850 that the glasses obtained the shape that we still know and recognize today.

“You will not go to bed without knowing one more thing”, and today I wanted to share with you what I learned. ;-)

Bianca

[caption The first-ever mention of eyeglass manufacturers dates back to the year 1300 - in the Venice list of guilds.]

[caption By the mid 13th-century, frames were basically a couple of rings riveted together, made of iron, leather, led, copper, or even wood.]

[caption Prescription glasses were invented in the 13th century. Allegedly, it was in Venice, Italy and eyeglasses were made of Murano glass. However, some of them were made of wood.]