September 2008 - Bamboo spectacles
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If your religion prevents you from coming into contact with metal, then your optician has a challenge on his hands and this was even more the case in the first half of the twentieth century before plastics began to dominate the spectacle frame industry.
In 1937 the Guild of St Odilia (a London-based professional gathering of Roman Catholic opticians about which we know precious little...if you can help let us know) donated this pair of spectacles to the BOA Museum. They were as worn by a man described as a Jain 'priest' in India. In fact there are no such things as Jain priests, only monks and nuns. The religious man's optician sent the discarded pair to England for preservation after supplying him with a new optical correction. Though 'modern' the construction echoes that of 16th century nose spectacles from Europe. The thread wrapped tightly round the bridge is to prevent any metal touching the nose. Whilst some Jains eschew clothing altogether, other Jain sects accept that simple stitched white clothing is acceptable and the modified spectacles should be seen in this context. Bamboo, of course, has a natural groove when split, allowing a lens to be held quite easily. Perhaps Bamboo spectacles could be the next latest thing?
Did you know? The followers of Jainism have traditionally been scholarly. The 2001 Indian census revealed that they have the highest degree of literacy in India and their libraries at Patan and Jaisalmer are India's oldest.
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