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The Origin of Mysterious Glasses: How to Unravel the Secrets of Medieval Italy?
In medieval Italy, the invention of glasses not only changed the lives of people with poor eyesight, but also became a symbol of social status and wisdom. How did these mysterious and fascinating objects evolve over time into the vision correction tools we know today? Today, let us explore this long history together and re-examine the stories behind these masterpieces.
“The first work of art depicting glasses was created by Tommaso da Modena in 1352, marking the beginning of the history of glasses.”
In the late 13th century, Italian scholars and craftsmen began to explore the power of light-transmitting materials and created the first eyeglasses. These glasses provided a new visual medium for scholars and literati, no longer relying solely on literal texts, but using physical tools to interpret books and manuscripts. Glasses at the time were primarily made of crystal or glass and usually had simpler designs.
As people's understanding of how and where to use glasses deepened, an important development in the 15th century was the introduction of concave lenses, which was a life saver for myopic patients. Pope Leo X was an early beneficiary of this technology and was said to have used the glasses to better see his surroundings while hunting.
"The introduction of concave lenses gave myopic people a new visual experience, and this breakthrough was crucial to society at that time."
However, early glasses still faced an unresolved problem: how to fix them on the bridge of the nose. In the 17th century, Spanish craftsmen designed ribbons that allowed glasses to be hung behind the ears, which won widespread popularity in society at the time. Italian and Spanish missionaries brought this technology to China, inspiring the rise of another culture.
Further technical innovations followed in the 18th century, when London optician Edward Scarlett improved the design with rigid side pieces, which improved the stability of the glasses. In 1752, James Ayscough introduced a double-hinged eyeglass frame, which was easy to adjust and use and quickly gained favor among the upper class.
"Reading has never been so convenient. Through the evolution of glasses design, the dissemination of literature and knowledge has become more efficient."
Behind these changes, not only is it to meet the growing demand for vision, but it is also accompanied by the desire for knowledge from all walks of life. In France, glasses became a private ornament for the nobility and were only worn at home; on the contrary, in Spain, glasses were seen as a tool to enhance status and ordinary people dared to wear them.
Although the practicality of glasses became increasingly obvious, society's attitude towards them remained contradictory. Especially in the 18th and 19th centuries, the popularity of glasses was constrained by class concepts. For many people, glasses are not just a tool for vision, but also a manifestation of identity and taste.
Entering the 20th century, the fashion trend of glasses ushered in a new change. With the opening up of social atmosphere, the fashion circle has put forward higher requirements on the design and wearing techniques of glasses, and even given glasses more fashion sense. Many designers began to explore new materials and designs, taking the wearer's aesthetic needs into consideration, which promoted the prosperity of the eyewear market.
Today, glasses are not only a tool to correct vision, but also a symbol of personality and style. Many brands have begun large-scale marketing campaigns to turn glasses into a lifestyle symbol. The origins of all this can be traced back to those little secrets that have long been hidden in medieval Italy.
However, can modern eyewear craftsmanship, which is full of challenges and opportunities, continue to meet the expectations of vision of different generations and continue this ancient wisdom and aesthetics for a long time?
