Sunglasses
1930s (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
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 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 was made from moulded nitrate. However, because it is a highly flammable material, nitate was only used for eyewear briefly. It was later banned as unsafe.
This frame was made from moulded nitrate. However, because it is a highly flammable material, nitate was only used for eyewear briefly. It was later banned as unsafe.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Moulded celluloid |
| Brief description | Round eye shape plastic moulded celluloid sunglasses, made by Oliver Goldsmith Eyewear, Great Britain, 1930s |
| Physical description | Round eye shape plastic sunglasses with curl sides. Moulded celluloid. |
| Credit line | Given by A. Oliver Goldsmith, in memory of his father, Charles Oliver Goldsmith |
| Object history | Registered File number 1990/200. This 1930s frame is a very early sunglass design based on an optical frame. At this time, lenses were flat before the introduction of curved lenses. |
| Summary | 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 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 was made from moulded nitrate. However, because it is a highly flammable material, nitate was only used for eyewear briefly. It was later banned as unsafe. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.242F-1990 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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