Altina Schinasi was an American personality. She was a talented sculpture, filmmaker, actress, entrepreneur, window dresser, designer, and inventor. She was best known as the designer of Cat eye glasses. Recently, Google Doodle celebrates the legacy of Schinasi which makes her more popular nowadays. Since her teenage years, she has had a great interest in art and it shapes her eminent career.
Her paintings and sculptures reflect her artistic power. The cat eye glasses designer transcends the boundary of eyewear. Her legacy exemplifies as a tribute in the significance of artistic insight. She had an incredible career. Many young or teenage people who didn’t know about Altina want to know her contributions and legacy in art and design.
So, In this article you will learn about the details of the life of Altina Schinasi inventions. Including Altina Schinasi husband, her age, career, legacy, invention and death.
Who is Altina Schinasi:
A talented lady who gained audience attention with her incredible invention of cat eyes glasses. She was inspired by the Harlequin Character from commedia dell’arte. So, she decided to invent a pair of glasses that not only works as eye sight glasses, but also serves as a fashion expression. Her invention inspires many artists, designers and actresses around the world. Read a complete article to learn about a brief biography of Altina Schinasi art, inventions and others.
| Full Name | Altina Schinasi |
| Age | 92 years (died) |
| Date of Birth | 4th August 1907 |
| Place of Birth | New York, United States |
| Date of Death | 19th August 1999 |
| Religion | Jewish |
| Ethnicity | Sephardic Jewish |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
Early Life:
A talented sculptor or designer, Altina Schinasi was born in New York, United States on 4th August 1907. Altina holds American nationality and she is a follower of Jewish religion. Altina’s ethnicity is Sephardic Jewish, her zodiac sign is Leo and her sexual orientation is straight.
Educational Background:
If we talk about her educational background, Altina completed her early education from the local school of her hometown New York. Later, she attended the art student league of New York, where she focused on her painting skills. She also attended Horace Mann School.
At the age of 12, she left home to board at Dana Hall School in Wellesley, Massachusetts. She shortly enrolled in Parsons school of design where she learned art and design. It shows her interest in designing and art. Altina is very dedicated and passionate towards her career in art.
| School | art student league of New York – Horace Mann School – Dana Hall School in Wellesley |
| Degree | Art and Design |
Parents and Siblings:
Now grab a look at Altina parents and siblings. Her father’s name is Morris Schinasi. He was born in Manisa, Turkey. He was a Sephardic Jew. Her father grew her wealth from selling high quality tobacco around the world. Her mother’s name was Laurette Schinasi née Ben Rubi. She was the granddaughter of Joseph Ben Rubi who was a Schinasi business associate. Her mother was a Housewife. The details of the Schinasi siblings are unknown. But, she had one sister and her name and profession is not known yet.
| Father Name | Morris Schinasi |
| Mother Name | Laurette Schinasi née Ben Rubi |
| Siblings | 1 Sister |
| Sister Name | Not Known |
Height, Weight & Physical Appearance:
Altina is a very gorgeous and beautiful lady. She has balanced height and weight with attractive body features. Altina’s exact height and weight is unknown. But, estimated she has a height of 5 feet 4 inches or 1.62 m or 162 cm and she weighs 54 kg or 119 lbs. Altina has short black hair and her eyes are brown. Her shoe size and other body measurements are unknown and also there is no tattoo present on Altina’s body.
| Height | 5 feet 4 inches or 1.62 m or 162 cm |
| Weight | 54 kg or 119 lbs. |
| Hair Color | Black Color |
| Eyes Color | Brown Color |
| Shoe Size | Not Known |
| Body Measurements | Not Known |
| Tattoo | No |
Career and Professional Life:
Let’s dive into the Altina Career. She started her career as a window display designer, took a job with peter copeland designing windows for 5th Avenue store. In this she worked with many notable artists and designers such as Salvador Dalí and George Grosz.
A German artist whose name is George Grosz moved to New York in 1932 after fleeing Hitler’s regime. Altina admired him a lot. He started teaching art and design at the Art student league. He has an attractive and innovative style which grabs her attention. He also started to teach at her own art school with his fellow painter Maurice Sterne. At this time Altina is only 20 years old and divorce mother of two sons. She took painting classes at George Grosz school. She also saw Salvador Dalí and later she worked with him.
Cat Eye Glasses Frame:
She is a very talented woman and invented many new and beneficial things in her life. But, the best of them is the Harlequin eyeglasses frame. In the late 90s, these cat eye glasses were very popular. One day, she was walking in the street and noticed the existing boring and dull frames of eyesight. She was very disappointed to see those dull frames and later decided to create eyeglasses frames that look fun or flattering.
An idea hit upon her mind to create a frame similar to Harlequin masks. She started working on these frames, cutting paper demos of her design. After completing working, she tried to find a manufacturer who would create a harlequin glasses frame. But sadly all of them rejected her idea because they thought that it was too edgy and difficult.
After dealing with several clients and stores to create frames, she set up an office where she manages marketing and management regarding her invention of frame. To expand her business, she moved to california. After consistent hardwood, her idea of glasses became successful. She won a big award for this in 1938. Many big magazines such as Vogue and life admired her and appreciated her. Many famous celebrities such as Lucille Ball, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, and Elizabeth Taylor also wore these eyeglasses.
Sold Eyewear Company:
In the mid 1940s, she moved to Los Angeles with her first husband Morris B. She continued to doing her painting and inventions and finally sold her eyeglasses business. She also works in many prestigious art galleries and museums.
Altina also tried her hand as an actress in various films, documentries, and filmmaking. Through her filmmaking ability, she highlights social issues like war, poverty, racism, and human rights. She spent many years as a volunteer art therapist and painter at the experimental mental health center, Synanon.
She continued to paint and sculpt. In her final years, Altina lived with her 4th husband and established herself in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In 2014, Victoria Sanders, her granddaughter, produced a cherished documentary about her life entitled Altina. She is such a talented and creative lady.
Husband and Children:
If we talk about Altina Schinasi husband, her husband’s name is Morris B. Sanders Jr. He was a famous architect. In 1928, Altina and Morris B. Exchange their vows in a home ceremony. It was featured in Architect Magazine. The beautiful couple would have 2 children together. Their sons’ names are Terry Sanders and Denis Sander and now both of them are film directors.
After several years of their marriage they parted their ways due to personal differences. Altina married four times in her life. After divorce from Morris, she tied the knot with Viennese doctor Eric Barrett. Her third husband is political scientist Charles Carey and her fourth husband is Cuban artist Celestino “Tino” Miranda.
| 1st Husband Name | Morris B. Sanders Jr. |
| Children | 2 Sons |
| Children Names | Terry Sanders and Denis Sander |
| 2nd Husband | Viennese doctor Eric Barrett |
| 3rd Husband | Political scientist Charles Carey |
| 4th Husband | Cuban artist Celestino “Tino” Miranda |
Google Doodle:
On her incredible journey in art and design, Google celebrated the 116th birthday of Altina. It featured her face inside a harlequin eye frame On August 4, 2023 and admires her legacy and inventions in art and design. It was designed by guest artist Sophie Diao.
Diao said that she wanted to capture her “bold and playful spirit”. TIt highlights her talents and creativity by showing some of her paintings, sculptures, and documentaries in the background. It was a tribute to her legacy as a pioneer of eyewear design. It also aimed to motivate people to follow their passions and express themselves freely. She is really a versatile artist who used her creativity to make a positive impact on the world.
Death Cause:
A talented and creative lady, Schinasi died on 19th August 1999, at the age of 92 in Santa Fe, New Mexico due to heart failure. Altina lived with Celestino Miranda until his death in 1997. She is remembered by her two sons Terry Sanders and Denis Sanders, four grandchildren Peter Sanders, Victoria Sanders, Jessica Sanders, and Julia Miranda-Sanders, and two great-grandchildren. She died but her creativity and innovation must be remembered by everyone in the entire world.
| Cause of Death | Heart Failure |
| Date of Death | 19th August 1999 |
Fast Facts About Altina Schinasi:
- Who was Altina? Altina was a talented sculpture, filmmaker, actress, entrepreneur, window dresser, designer, and inventor and was best known as the designer of Cat eye glasses
- When was Altina Schinasi born? Altina was born in New York, United States on 4th August 1907.
- When did Altina Schinasi died? Schinasi died on 19th August 1999, at the age of 92 in Santa Fe, New Mexico due to heart failure.
- How tall is she? She has a height of 5 feet 4 inches or 1.62 m or 162 cm
- Who is her first husband? Her first husband’s name is Morris B. Sanders Jr.
- Which nationality does she hold? Altina holds American nationality
- From which religion she belongs to? Altina is a follower of Jewish religion.
- How much net worth? Her net worth is not known.
- How many children does she have from her first marriage? She has 2 children with her first husband and their sons’ names are Terry Sanders and Denis Sander
- When she won an award for her idea of a Harlequin glasses frame? She won a big award for this in 1938.
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Conclusion:
Altina Schinasi life is full of incredible inventions and creativity. Since her teenage years, she has had an interest in art and design. Her interest showcases her artistic nature. Altina faces many difficulties while inventing the harlequin glasses frame.
Her whole life reflects her artistic nature, creativity, designing and art. For her exceptional talents, google doodle recently celebrated her 116th birthday on August 4, 2023. Beyond her professional life, she also faces many difficulties in her personal life. Altina married four times in her life. Currently, she is not with us but her exceptional contributions are everywhere around us. May her soul rest in peace.
Frequently Asked Questions About Altina Schinasi:
Q 1. How old is she now when she dies?
Ans. She was 92 years old when she died.
Q 2. What is the reason for her death?
Ans. Altina died due to heart failure.
Q 3. When Google Doodle celebrates her birthday?
Ans. Google celebrated the 116th birthday of Altina and featured her face inside a harlequin eye frame On August 4, 2023
Q 4. When was Altina Schinasi born?
Ans. Altina was born in New York, United States on August 4, 1907.
Q 5. Who was Altina’s second husband?
Ans. After divorce from Morris, she tied the knot with Viennese doctor Eric Barrett.
