Google Doodle Pays Tribute To Altina Schinasi- Designer Of Cat-Eye Glasses

In the 1940s, Schinasi is most known for designing the iconic Harlequin cat-eye glasses. Aside from that, she was well-known for her textile, ceramic, and jewellery work.

image credit : latestLV

Today’s Google Doodle honours Altina Schinasi, a well-known American artist and designer. In the 1940s, Schinasi is most known for designing the iconic Harlequin cat-eye glasses. Aside from that, she was well-known for her textile, ceramic, and jewellery work. Cat-eye glasses were inspired by Venetian carnival masks and have big, almond-shaped frames with upturned tips, making them emblems of glamour and sophistication.

This particular doodle was created to commemorate Schinasi’s 116th birthday. Her art was influenced by a range of sources, including Native American Art, African Art, and Modernist Art, with its visually appealing and dynamic designs comprised of brilliant colours, geometric patterns, and abstract forms.

About Altina Schinasi:

Altina Schinasi was an American sculptor, filmmaker, businesswoman, window dresser, designer, and inventor who was born on August 4, 1907. She polished her artistic skills at New York City’s The Art Students League, where she worked as a window dresser for numerous Fifth Avenue stores. She also worked with other well-known artists who helped her enhance her artistic talents and become a better artist.

Harlequin Glasses Frame or The Cat-Eye Glasses:

Schinasi made a name for herself early in her career when she designed and commercialised the Harlequin eyeglass frame, which typified glamour in the late 1930s. Altina set out to build a frame that represented whimsy, intrigue, and romance after being displeased by the uninspired frames in an optician’s window.

Altina started with the Harlequin mask and began cutting it into the frames she imagined. After setting up production and negotiating arrangements with department stores, Schinasi moved on to create an office where she supervised marketing and distribution. After coming to California, she expanded her business to the West Coast.

Schinasi won the Lord & Taylor Annual American Design Award in 1939 for her work in making eyeglasses fashionable. She was also acknowledged by Vogue and Life magazines with revolutionising the eyewear industry and aesthetic.