10/18/2024
Sunglasses made of Murano glass, 18th Century AD, Venice, Italy.
Goldoni-type Sunglasses with Mocenigo Coat of Arms (Vascellari Collection, Italy, on display at The Murano Glass Museum)
Long before the rest of the world would discover the danger of ultra-violet rays in 1870, Venetian opticians were 120 years ahead of the curve.
The green colour of the lenses, conjured by the island's glassmakers in the bright hues of grass green, sea green and emerald green, wasn't simply a fashion statement, but had a key functional role: it has been later discovered that this colour serves as a powerful filter for UV rays, which are damaging to eye and skin health.