Margriet 140

These Metzler glasses mark a brief transition period in eyeware design.

In Amsterdam, the first big frames appeared in late 1966 / early 1967,

but the materials only started changing two years later. 

Cat eye glasses had become unfashionable in 1965 and the new style

was small and solid. The frames were brown or black for brunettes and

orange for blondes. The orange frames disappeared rather abruptly in

the late 1960's, never to come back.

I came across these Metzler glasses at the famous "Waterlooplein" flea

market in Amsterdam during my early days as a collector. A pennyless

student with one guilder in his pocket.... but the glasses were well worth

the guilder. The end of the arms have a tiny hole, indicating that the first

owner of the glasses had them attached to a chain. She may have been

a middle aged lady who was just able to read without her glasses. 

Varifocals were only invented in the late 1960's and quite expensive.