Koko
Sunglasses
1960s (made)
1960s (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
A. Oliver Goldsmith created this glasses frame in the 1960s. Philip Oliver Goldsmith, a salesman for a small optical firm, founded his eyewear company in London in 1926. In 1935 his son Charles Goldsmith entered the firm with the aim of making glasses 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 actor Diana Dors, Princess Grace of Monaco and Diana, Princess of Wales.
This frame is made using plastic with an imitation wood colour. Oliver Goldsmith sanded the surface by hand to enhance the effect. The large round shape was popular for the glass lenses in use at the time. A few years later, plastic lenses of ophthalmic quality began to be manufactured.
This frame is made using plastic with an imitation wood colour. Oliver Goldsmith sanded the surface by hand to enhance the effect. The large round shape was popular for the glass lenses in use at the time. A few years later, plastic lenses of ophthalmic quality began to be manufactured.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Koko (manufacturer's title) |
| Materials and techniques | Plastic |
| Brief description | Wood-coloured plastic sunglasses frames 'Koko', made by Oliver Goldsmith Eyewear, Great Britain, 1960s |
| Physical description | Wood-coloured plastic sunglasses with round eye shape and thick straight sides. |
| Dimensions |
|
| 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 | A. Oliver Goldsmith created this glasses frame in the 1960s. Philip Oliver Goldsmith, a salesman for a small optical firm, founded his eyewear company in London in 1926. In 1935 his son Charles Goldsmith entered the firm with the aim of making glasses 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 actor Diana Dors, Princess Grace of Monaco and Diana, Princess of Wales. This frame is made using plastic with an imitation wood colour. Oliver Goldsmith sanded the surface by hand to enhance the effect. The large round shape was popular for the glass lenses in use at the time. A few years later, plastic lenses of ophthalmic quality began to be manufactured. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.244C-1990 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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