Artist Sigmar Berg is the European-born founder and designer of Beryll upscale sunglasses, belts, and jewelry. His line is "recognized by discerning fashion connoisseurs for its superior quality, trend-setting designs and ‘limited edition' exclusivity". How exclusive? His designs are made in Italy, with use of non-nickel metals for those allergic to it, frames are hand-polished, and each design is made in limited runs of only of 1,500. That exclusive, to the tune of over $300 a pair.

"It's not just fashion," says Berg, as his hand sweeps across the glass case that hold his accessories. But, I think at first, it is only fashion. I've always thought that I could get away with wearing cheap-o sunglasses, throw-aways, a decision of pure practicality since I lose or break them frequently.
Let's just say that by the time I left, that attitude would change. Visiting with Berg, I got my ‘education' in just what the marriage of exceptional form, function and exquisite craftsmanship means, on more levels than just eye protection and a desired look.

Berg's wife and business partner Petra chose for me a pair of classically-inspired aviators - frames a warm brassy hue with a subtle glow of rose, and green-blue lenses. Berg mused that he trolls history to ‘pimp' classical designs such as aviators worn by World War II fliers.
The moment I slipped them on they felt instantly right, perfectly balanced on the nose, and the exact right proportions from stem to ear and across the width. It was one of those moments when the stars align and the gods say ‘Ahh'. Impeccable quality. Careful craftsmanship. What a startling contrast to the clunkers I usually buy, temple-pinching headache makers that chisel a line across the bridge of the nose.

As I held up the mirror for a look I was taken aback. Same clothes, same woman, same black baseball hat, same long blond locks. But now, with the mere addition of sunglasses as an accessory, let's just say I was so ready for my close-up.

Even the hard-sided black leather case the sunglasses come with is a work of design/art in itself. A molded hinge-case, rounded, substantial to hold like a fat baguette. Again, function and form marry; the case is sizeable enough not to lose and a hunk of good design in its own right.

So what was it about sunglasses, this functional ‘masking device' that can amp up the coolness factor? What makes cool cool? It's like asking what makes a movie star so movie-starish, that unquantifiable ‘x' factor.

A look back into the history of the making of sunglasses, and its initial purpose, gives a few clues. Sunglasses were invented to hide the gateway to the soul, the eyes. Judges of the courts of China, umpteen centuries ago, invented colored lenses to hide any information the eyes might reveal -- to mask the outcome of their legal decisions. But it was a few centuries before that when gladiator-glutton Emperor Nero needed something to shield his eyes from the Roman sun while taking in a day at the Coliseum to watch the Christians duke it out with the lions. Hence, crafted were the first sunglasses meant for sun protection which were emerald green gems, highly polished, held to the eyes.

The first movie stars wore sunglasses not to necessarily look cool, but to protect the eyes from harsh studio lighting of early film studios, and the blinding flash of newspapermen's camera bulbs. The public took notice when photos of celebrities wearing shades splashed across magazine pages. And when LIFE magazine in particular displayed pilots of WWII in sunglasses worn primarily to protect the eyes from the flashes of explosions and high-altitude glare. People wanted what their heroes wore.

Berg's line of leather belts are actual European WWII army belts restored to suppleness with mink-oil, and new buckles. Again it's the classic, form-follows-function design to which Berg adds his crafted finesse. The jewelry is unisex: thick twists of silver with a feel of weighty substantiality. The designs are all slogan'd with "Worn By Good People". This, he says, means designs are not necessarily for the "Mother Theresa good," but all the local heroes that day-in/day-out do good right at home. "Like being a good father," he says.

NEXT, LA2DAY looks at the fine art of Sigmar Berg: photography on canvas that catch dramatic contrasts of light and intensities of color transforming ordinary places whether it be a view from a building top in LA, a lower Manhattan street, or how sky meets the sea. "What the eye doesn't see," says Berg. I think about this. What he means is - what the eye could see if our senses were more enhanced, more acutely attuned to shifts of light, color - if we could actually see better what's already there. This is how, I think, Mr. Berg sees the world - and through his art and design gives that vision back to us.

Sigmar will be hosting an Art Reception on April 6th. Details as follows:
Developed Views Art Reception
Il Moro Restaurant
April 6th
5pm - 8pm
11400 Olympic Blvd.

www.beryll.com

ROBYN EWING
LA2DAY'S Reporter of Aesthetics-at-Large