Vintage upswept (cat-eye) spectacle frame
 Catalogue Number: 4115 Vintage upswept (cat-eye) spectacle frame Category: Spectacles and lenses Sub-Category: Spectacle frame Corporation: ViennaLine Year Of Publication/Manufacture: 1960s Time Period: 1940 to 1999 Place Of Publication/Manufacture: Austria Publisher/Manufacturer: ViennaLine Description Of Item: Cat-eye shaped women's spectacle frame, front in optyl material, purple with fine black and grey edging. Pink anodised aluminium temples with delicate engraving and small metal trim, saddle bridge, unglazed. VIENNALINE engraved on R templ,e 135 above 5 1/4 in an oval on L temple. Overall size 148 x 40 mm, Frame size 46 x 18. Historical Significance: The ViennaLine company was founded in the 1950s by Austrian Wilhelm Anger, who was also the founder of Carrera. Anger was the inventor of Optyl, a thermo-durable plastic material made from epoxy resins. He was joined by Udo Proksch, a prolific eyewear designer who had previously worked for Carrera. The lightness, durability, hypoallergenic and colour stable properties of Optyl led to a revolution in the eyewear industry and enabled Proksch to create innovative designs. In 1977, at the height of his success, Proksch was found guilty of destroying a ship and killing six people with a time bomb as part of an insurance fraud. He was sentenced to life in prison in 1991. This event had a strong impact on the image of ViennaLine, marking the end of an era for the brand. The Optyl material is now exclusively by the Safilo company. How Acquired: Donated by Peter Dwyer Date Acquired: 20/10/2021 Condition: Frame front in very good condition but temples show wear and hinges are rusted. Location: Documents Room Blue Daytona Cabinet Drawer 1 |