Judith thumbnail 1
Judith thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Judith

Glasses
1980s (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The eyewear firm Oliver Goldsmith created this glasses frame in the mid-1980s. Philip Oliver Goldsmith, a salesman for a small optical firm, founded this eyewear company in London in 1926. In 1935 his son Charles Goldsmith entered the firm with the aim of transforming glasses from a medical necessity to a fashion item. From the company’s offices in Poland Street, his sons A. Oliver and Ray Goldsmith built upon the company’s reputation for attention-grabbing designs and solicited celebrity endorsement for their products. Key clients included Lord Snowdon, the actress Diana Dors, Princess Grace of Monaco and Diana, Princess of Wales.

This slightly oversized eyeglasses frame was designed in two-toned plastic, pink and clear and was also available in a range of other colours. It is the enlarged version of another Oliver Goldsmith designed titled ‘Robbie’.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleJudith (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Acetate
Brief description
Two-toned acetate eyeglasses 'Judith', made by Oliver Goldsmith Eyewear, Great Britain, 1980s
Physical description
Two-toned eyeglasses in pink and clear acetate.
Dimensions
  • Width: 14cm
  • Height: 6.5cm
Credit line
Given by A. Oliver Goldsmith, in memory of his father, Charles Oliver Goldsmith
Object history
Registered File number 1990/200.
These glasses form part of a design archive of the British eyewear company Oliver Goldsmith. The archive, which consists of approximately 70 glasses frames from the 1930s to the late 1980s, was donated by A. Oliver Goldsmith, grandson of the founder, and former chief designer at the firm. A. Oliver Goldsmith donated the material to the V & A in memory of his father Charles Goldsmith.
Summary
The eyewear firm Oliver Goldsmith created this glasses frame in the mid-1980s. Philip Oliver Goldsmith, a salesman for a small optical firm, founded this eyewear company in London in 1926. In 1935 his son Charles Goldsmith entered the firm with the aim of transforming glasses from a medical necessity to a fashion item. From the company’s offices in Poland Street, his sons A. Oliver and Ray Goldsmith built upon the company’s reputation for attention-grabbing designs and solicited celebrity endorsement for their products. Key clients included Lord Snowdon, the actress Diana Dors, Princess Grace of Monaco and Diana, Princess of Wales.

This slightly oversized eyeglasses frame was designed in two-toned plastic, pink and clear and was also available in a range of other colours. It is the enlarged version of another Oliver Goldsmith designed titled ‘Robbie’.
Collection
Accession number
T.245S-1990

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Record createdDecember 12, 2008
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