The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-04-16


lest known pair Of spectacles were
those belonging, to Willibald Pirk-
heimer in the Wartburg, recently
found by Greer Of Berlin Greeff has
described a still earlier pair, however.
probably made. before the year 1900.
which were brought to his attention
by Sudhoff OF Leipzig These were
found in an old volume Of incunabula
by the well-known antiquarian book
seller. jacques Rosenthal. and were
presented by him to the Germanic Ma
tional Museum at Nuremberg, where
they now are to be seen in the section
devoted to costumes and personal or
naments. The frame is of tanned
blackened leather OF obvious Nurem-
berg make, and. like the Pirkheimer
spectacles. of the old traditional
''nose-rider" shape, but they are
clumsier and thicker than the Pirk-
heimer pattern OF 1620-153O. The
lenses are lacking. In view Of these
characteristics and of the fact that
century folio, Greer and Sudhoff seem
to have no doubt that they were made
before 1900.
Greeff also traces the evolution Of
the true modern spectacleS from the
old nose-riders 1.-THE originals Of the
81
which came into fashion in 1896, con-
sisting of two lenses mounted on a
scissor-shaped handle, the original of
tho modern lorgnette. The earliest
form of the true spectacle glasses
was invented and introduced by. M.
spectacles." the shanks extending no
further than the temples. There
were two kinds, one with a small end
platelet. which was represented in a
portrait by Pelham, an English paint
er of the eighteenth century, OF which
| the other, which is to be seen in
CRAFTS portrait Of Chodowiecki
G7S5), with q characteristic large
circular fastener at the end of the
shank. which held the spectacles
against the temple. The next stage
which at first had crude, heavy.
clumsy shanks. jointed at the end,
like those in the Beethoven house at
Bonn, which were further improved
by Sitting the ends or by means Of
an Olive-shaped fastener. The next
Improvement, consisting Of q tointe1
appendage to the shank, was made in
| 1852 by the London optician, ]. Ays-
cough. A later variant Of this joint
passed downward and backward un-
derneath the ear. Still another va
riety Of this joint was SO arranged
that it could be bent back when the
| glasses were not in use. These were
called extension spectacles. Up to the
beginning OF the eighteenth century
the lenses were still very large and
| round. but after that time they began
| to be octagOna1, square, rectangular
| and finally oval. About the same time
| the bridge began to change in shape
first assuming the form OF q K placed
sideWise.
The origin of the present fashion OF
large circular le--ses set in delicate
tortoise-shell mounts is q pastel DOR.
trait of the painter. Chardin, in thu
Louvre. executed by himself in 1850
the spectacles in which were copied
with great success by recent French
opticians and are known in Paris Al
Chardin spectacles. The same tyne il
familiar to US in q well-known nor.
trait of Benjamin Franklin. Four Of
five years ago. says Greer, q youna
woman or lady Of fashion would hays
been horrifed At the notion Of wear.
ing spectacles Of such an unsiRhtl,
type. Today she would regard 1t =,
not only chic, but the height OF ele
gance- Plenty Of people In Americs
are inclined, no doubt, to revive thu
traditions of .sold Ben franklin
days" for similar reasons, ALTHOUGH
the optical advantages and the com
fort OF these large lenses are obvious
of the American Nedica
i A9eociafion