| Renaissance (1600's-1750's) 
Eyeglasses of this period were mainly of European origin and were made almost exclusively
of metal.
Revolutionary War & Civil War
(1700's-1860's)
 
Lens shapes varied widely in this period and included oval, round and rectangular. PROP
SPECS has over 100 different styles.
Lorgnette
Produced primarily for the fashionable ladies of the time (early 1800’s), lorgnettes
were used by women who did not customarily wear eyeglasses, but needed them to see such
things as the opera and reading material. Lorgnettes were made of mother-of-pearl,
tortoise shell and metal (brass, silver, gold).
Pince Nez/Oxford
 
Glasses supported only by the nose (no earpieces). Appeared in the 1840’s, but became
popular with both men and women in the late 1800’s.
Chinese (1850’s)
In China, eyeglasses established the wearer as intelligent, affluent and influential. The
size of the lenses were also very important; the larger the lens, the more affluent the
wearer was thought to be.
Turn of the Century (1900's)
Eyeglasses were readily available to all soci-economic classes.
World War I (1920's)
In the 'Roaring 20's', silent film comedian Harold Lloyd popularized the use of plastic
material for glasses.
1930’s
The 1930’s brought about an increased emphasis on and awareness of style to the world
of eyeglasses. Technical improvements were also made rendering glasses more practical as
well as more aesthetically pleasing.
World War II (1940's)
The war inspired functional eyewear such as aviator glasses.
Rock 'n Roll Era (1950's)
From Buddy Holly's horn-rimmed signature eyeglasses to Jayne Mansfield's 'cat eye' shades,
the entertainment industry influenced eyewear fashion.
Hippie (1960’s)
The 'Summer of Love' produced some very distinctive eyewear such as John Lennon's
unforgettable wire frames. Style became more important than comfort in this era of dark,
heavy and sturdy frames. Two-thirds of American adults were reported to have worn
eyeglasses during this decade.
Disco (1970's)
Colored lenses, wild designs and oversized lenses marked the 'Saturday Night Fever'
generation of eyewear.
1980’s
The trend of oversized lenses continued from the 70’s into the 80’s. Elaborate
and gaudy designs in women’s glasses became popular. Faceted eyeglasses and tri color
lenses as seen on Saturday Night Lives 'Coffee Talk' skit with Mike Myers exemplified this
trend.
Goggles & Instruments
Mesh goggles with cobalt blue lenses were used as early as the 1840's in the steel mills.
The clear lensed goggles were used by conductors on the transcontinental railroad.
Modern Frames
Prop Specs carries many lines of modern eyewear lines such as: Kenneth Cole, Jessica McClintock, Ocean Pacific, Fisher Price Kids, Jeep, Lacoste, Nina
Ricci, Ralph Lauren Polo, Calvin Klein, Armani (Giorgio & Emporio), Guess, DKNY,
Gianni Versace, Nautica, Anne Klein II, Claiborne, Ray Ban, Christian Dior, Gucci, Fendi,
Benetton, Timberland, Wink, Voga, Renoma, Karavan, Francois Feret, Champs, Converse,
Lauren Hutton, Bisou Bisou |
