A gilded designer frame by Colani — organically curved, open-worked, and recognizable as such from a distance. This vintage spectacle frame, model 1706, dates from the period when the designer transferred his flowing forms from vehicle and furniture construction to eyewear.
What's special about this frame
Instead of a straight temple, an open loop swings from the lens rim backwards — a double line that lets light through instead of shielding it. The broad temple hinge is open-worked and set with tear-shaped inlays in olive green and amber. The small oval decorative piece at the hinge bears the signature Colani. The temple tips are made of black plastic, providing a calm contrast to the warm gold.
Measurements and Marking
- Engraving on the inside of the temple: 52 □ 18 - 135 1706
- Lens width approx. 52 mm, bridge width approx. 18 mm, temple length approx. 135 mm
- Overall width approx. 13.5 cm
- Lens height approx. 3.3 cm
- Weight approx. 30 g
The engraved values are from the manufacturer
Condition
Worn vintage piece. The gilding is largely preserved and shows fine signs of wear in glancing light. The frame is complete, both temples and nose pads are present. The old prescription lenses are still inserted: slightly yellowish, with fine scratches, one of them with recognizably high power and concentric grinding rings at the edge. The lenses are to be understood as placeholders — any optician can re-lens the frame.
For what
For collectors of designer glasses from the 1980s and 1990s, as a frame for re-lensing or as a display piece on a shelf.
Origin and Shipping
Found at the monthly flea market in Baden near Vienna. Colani frames of this series were manufactured under license in Germany and Japan; no country marking can be seen on these glasses, so the manufacturing location remains open. Shipping from Austria, carefully packaged. The price is for 1 piece.
No one bought these glasses by accident. Whoever wore them wanted to be seen — or at least not overlooked. Forty years later, that's exactly what feels fresh again.
Gold that wouldn't stand still — Items with Soul · VintageAustriaShop
