Last Reviewed:July 7, 2023 by Gabrielle Marks
Who Invented Glasses?
The first inventor of eyeglasses opted to keep his invention secret. Alessandro della Spina can be credited with their introduction to the general public circa 1280.
More Info: Though there is no official record of who invented the first pair of glasses and why he didn’t go public, scholars speculate that it was for personal gain. Through records, a general timeline can be established as to their origin through the observations of those that knew the unknown man.
Friar Alessandro della Spina saw the invention and decided to produce them himself to share with the general public when the inventor refused to divulge his secrets.
Jump Ahead
- Scholarly Evidence Leads to Circa 1220
- First Historical Mention of Eyeglasses
- The Friars Get the Word Out
- The Development of Modern Day Eyeglasses
- Discussion
- Resources
Scholarly Evidence Leads Glasses Invention to Circa 1280
When looking for strong evidence as to the origin of eyeglasses, one only needs to read the works of Professor Vincent Ilardi, arguably one of the foremost scholars on the subject. In his book, Renaissance Vision from Spectacles to Telescopes, one of the most comprehensive and important books on the subject of the invention of glasses, Ilardi shares his exhaustive and extensive research on the subject, contributing significant findings on the subject.
First Historical Mention of Eyeglasses
Ilardi’s lifetime of research uncovered many important and influential documents, one of which he believes to be the first mention of glasses. According to Ilardi, Friar Giordano da Pisa mentioned eyeglasses in a sermon delivered in 1306, saying, “It has not yet been twenty years since there was found the art of making glasses…” His sermon went on to declare, “I saw the one who first discovered and practiced it, and I talked to him.” In the absence of any other documentation or even mention of eyeglasses before this date in history, this statement places the invention date sometime before 1286.
The Friars Get the Word Out
It seems that even though the inventor had his own ideas about sharing his invention with the world, Giordano was attempting to get the word out. His colleague from the same monastery took it one step further. Alessandro della Spina, being an inventor himself, also knew the inventor and saw the glasses firsthand. Because the inventor was unwilling to share this wonderful gift with those who could not see well, della Spina learned how to make them and divulged the secret to benefit the general population. The Ancient Chronicle of the Dominican Monastery of Saint Catherine in Pisa first recorded this fact in 1313, following the friar’s death. The author wrote, “Friar Alessandro della Spina, a modest and good man, whatever he saw that had been made, he knew how to make it. Eyeglasses, having first been made by someone else, who was unwilling to share them, he made them and shared them with a cheerful and willing heart.”
The Development of the Modern Day Eyeglasses
According to Ilardi, these first glasses were constructed of two convex lenses, enclosed in metal or bone rims, with handles to hold them before the eyes. It was not until nearly two centuries later that the next development came when Spanish eyeglass manufacturers attached silk ribbons to tie around the ears. China expanded upon this idea by adding weights to the ribbons. In 1730, Dr. Edward Scarlett developed sidepieces sturdy enough to be placed on top of the ears.
Who Invented Glasses Discussion
Many people credit Roger Bacon with the discovery of eyeglasses. Most scholarly books and papers on the subject agree that there is no evidence to substantiate this claim. Bacon did write about vision and optics in the 1260s. He made the first recorded reference to the magnifying properties of lenses in 1262. He understood the importance of visual aids and that convex lenses could improve sight in the elderly, but he did not invent the actual product.
Resources
- Ilardi, Vincent. “Chapter One.”Renaissance Vision from Spectacles to Telescopes. Philadelphia, PA: American Philosophical Society, 2007. 5-6. Print.
- Wade, Nicholas J.. “Chapter Three.”Perception and illusion historical perspectives. New York: Springer Science, 2005. 68. Print.
