A new book published by Schiffer Publishing Ltd. goes on sale on 28th November 2024 – the book is a comprehensive visual survey of currently available vintage eyewear dating from the 1920s to the 1990s by Takano Fujii
The new elegant paperback, which is presented as a compendium of fine and rare vintage designs, describes the selected pieces, period by period. The author interviewed vintage-eyeglass shop staff and owners in Japan and online, and eventually selected 131 vintage and valuable frames from the stores. Each one has been photographed and presented at full size – making it possible to appreciate the smallest details; with the exception of just a handful, these special pieces can be seen in person and even purchased via the stores.
The Introduction presents the focus of the selection: “Every frame is one of a kind and has a certain aura about it, and the historical fact that they were made from 25 years to a century ago is tantalizing. In an age when it is easy to buy reasonably good-quality eyewear, choosing a vintage piece for your very own “special” look is a decadent pleasure….”
Highlights we enjoyed seeing close to included the Madison model from American Optical, dating back to the 1920s and featuring a 10k white-gold filled ‘near-square’ octagon shape and impressive engraving. Among vintage icons such as Silhouette’s FUTURA and Oliver Goldsmith’s Koko, the selection also includes early Oliver Peoples’ and LINDBERG frames and a Jean-Paul Gaultier 1990s masterpiece inspired by the Eiffel Tower.
The author has written a brief history of eyewear for the introduction as well as including an informative summary about frame parts, materials and the most common vintage eyewear shapes. A commentary about the production of of glasses in Fukui Prefecture, Japan also makes very interesting reading.
Fujii sourced the frames featured in the book via prestigious eyewear stores which include Solakzade, Globe Specs and blinc (Japan) and www.vintageframescompany.com and others online.
About the author: Author Takano Fujii comes into contact with more than 1,000 pairs of glasses a year and writes articles on eyewear and related factories, and product introductions in Japan and abroad.
To purchase Vintage Eyewear Style, from 28th November, visit https://a.co/d/6hjpMKo / and/or