Glasses

From hand-crafted tortoiseshell spectacles to NHS plastic frames and 1980s designer sunglasses, this collection charts the dramatic evolution of glasses from medical necessity to fashion item. 

Charting the development of modern eyewear, the collection includes over 70 frames designed and produced over a 60-year period by the British firm Oliver Goldsmith, in a variety of styles, materials and colours. Other highlights include a mother-of-pearl glasses case which may have belonged to King James II and a pair of flamboyant specs worn by TV persona Dame Edna Everage. 

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The Oliver Goldsmith glasses collection

From war-time utility frames to bold style statements, explore six decades of glasses design by Oliver Goldsmith

  1. Watch

    How was it made? Hand-crafted glasses

    Ever wondered how a pair of glasses is made?

Collection highlights

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  1. glasses
    Glasses, by Oliver Goldsmith Eyewear, 1930s, UK
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
  2. sunglasses
    (Detail) Jester, sunglasses, manufactured by Oliver Goldsmith Eyewear, 1954, UK
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
  3. monocle
    Monocle, about 1900 – 30, Britain
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
  4. glasses
    Glasses, designed by Cutler and Gross, 1979, UK
    Young V&A
    On display
  5. sunglasses
    (Detail) Shah, sunglasses, manufactured by Oliver Goldsmith Eyewear, 1972, UK
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
  6. spectacles
    Spectacles worn by Barry Humphries as Dame Edna Everage, designed by Stephen Adnitt, made by Anglo-American Optical, 1997, London, England
    V&A South Kensington
    Not on display
  7. sunglasses
    Koko, sunglasses, manufactured by Oliver Goldsmith Eyewear, 1960s, UK
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
  8. sunglasses
    Tennis Rackets, sunglasses, manufactured by Oliver Goldsmith Eyewear, 1956, UK
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
  9. lorngette
    Lorngette, 19th century, Britain
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
  10. opera glasses
    Opera glasses, 19th century, Europe
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
  11. spectacle case and spectacles
    Spectacle case linked to James II and spectacles, France
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
  12. child's spectacle frames
    Child's spectacle frames, commissioned by National Health Service, 1960 – 69, UK
    V&A South Kensington
    Not on display
  13. sunglasses
    Fuz, sunglasses, manufactured by Oliver Goldsmith Eyewear, about 1964, UK
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
  14. sunglasses and case
    Wayfarer sunglasses and case, designed by Ray-Ban, manufactured by Bausch & Lomb, 1990, US
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
  15. sunglasses
    Bamboo, sunglasses, manufactured by Oliver Goldsmith Eyewear, 1962, UK
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
  16. sunglasses
    The Martian, sunglasses, manufactured by Oliver Goldsmith Eyewear, 1950s, UK
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
A gloved hand takes the lid off a ceramic jar
a gloves hand holds a Japanese netsuke
two people unpack a punk hat in a study centre

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Leopard cat eye sunglasses

Leopard cat eye sunglasses

£30

Spotted recycled sunglasses

Spotted recycled sunglasses

£30

Apollo and cherubs microfibre lens cloth

V&A EXCLUSIVE

Apollo and cherubs microfibre lens cloth

£5

Tortoise shell grey recycled sunglasses

Tortoise shell grey recycled sunglasses

£30

Art Deco zigzag fold-flat glasses case with lens cloth

V&A EXCLUSIVE

Art Deco zigzag fold-flat glasses case with lens cloth

£15

Tortoise shell brown recycled sunglasses

Tortoise shell brown recycled sunglasses

£30

Kimono blue fold-flat glasses case with lens cloth

V&A EXCLUSIVE

Kimono blue fold-flat glasses case with lens cloth

£15

Black recycled steel sunglasses

Black recycled steel sunglasses

£30

Japanese print lens cloth

V&A EXCLUSIVE

Japanese print lens cloth

£5

Black sunglasses

Black sunglasses

£30

Red marble lens cloth

V&A EXCLUSIVE

Red marble lens cloth

£5

Art Deco orange fold-flat glasses case with lens cloth

V&A EXCLUSIVE

Art Deco orange fold-flat glasses case with lens cloth

£15

Japanese kimono fold-flat glasses case with lens cloth

V&A EXCLUSIVE

Japanese kimono fold-flat glasses case with lens cloth

£15

Compton leather glasses slip case

V&A EXCLUSIVE

Compton leather glasses slip case

£15

Indian Lovebirds print lens cloth

V&A EXCLUSIVE

Indian Lovebirds print lens cloth

£5

Epic Iran lens cloth

V&A EXCLUSIVE

Epic Iran lens cloth

£5

Walter Crane Dulce Domum lens cloth

V&A EXCLUSIVE

Walter Crane Dulce Domum lens cloth

£5

Header image:
Glasses, Cutler and Gross, 1979, UK. Museum no. T.32-1995. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London