Chinese historians claim that spectacles came to China from Arabia around 1071. When Marco Polo visited China in 1271 he found that spectacles were being used. During the Ming dynasty it was thougth that wearing spectacles established the wearer as intelligent, affluent and influential. Furthermore the larger the spectacles the more intelligent the wearer was thought to be. Early spectacles were made of raffia, sandalwood, horn and tortoise shell. Lenses were made of crystal, glass or dark tea-stone.
These small metal framed sunglasses date from the early 1900s when spectacles and sunglasses were made of brass and alloy metals with tinted glass lenses. Western fashion also contributed to a reduction in size.

Sunglasses, mens, glass/metal, China, 1900-1925
Pair of mens sunglasses made of dark green glass in 'D' shape with thin metal frames and arms.

Made: China; 1900 - 1925

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1900 - 1925