The use of eyeglasses in the Netherlands is documented from the second half of the 14th century. The spectacle frame of this period is composed of two parts held together by a small metal rivet. The enlarging lens (reading glass) was made by Italian monks using beryl, a semi-precious mineral. Reading glasses were in use in Italy from the 13th century, either pinched on the nose or hand-held. They were rare and expensive, therefore only rich merchants and clerics could afford them.

For more details, see http://www.antiquespectacles.com .

 

The oldest known rivet spectacles made of boxwood are the finds from the Augustinian monastery of Freiburg (D), all of the curved type. A spectacle case made of a single piece of wood was also found.

dimensions: 72 mm folded

provenance: Freiburg (D) date: 13th + 14th century