Claude Samuel eyewear collection

This exhibition is focused on the history of eyeglasses and also on vision itself. It based on Claude Samuel’s collection of eyewear and optometric devices. Claude Samuel is fourth-generation optometrist. His collection of eyewear began with an inheritance he received from his father who owned
the luxury eyewear chain store Meyrowitz in Paris.
Claude himself later started to attend an interesting fairs and markets, meet other collectors, study the catalogues of the most important auctions.

The history of glasses began more than 700 years ago and contains several cultural milestones represented on the exhibition.
Every single piece of it is an important chapter which represents a certain era.

Samuel has a special attachment to some items of his fabulous collection. For instance to his father’s glasses from 80s, and a pair of protective goggles that featured in the film l’Aveu, starring French actor Yves Montand.
Also to a monocle that he found by chance at the flea market of Paris . He still eager to search for some unique and rare pieces like pair of Medieval glasses from XIII Century.

The Upper Gallery of the museum features several cultural milestones on the biography of eyeglasses throughout the centuries.
This gallery contains over 400 rare items which date from the 17th century to the present.

The Lower Gallery (Dr. Shulamit Katzman Gallery) features a project created by contemporary Israeli designers and architects, who expand our understanding of vision.

In the Peripheral Corridor, The Aharon Feiner Eden Materials Library features the exhibition Vision Test, which explores three central elements of vision – focus, color, and distance through variety of design strategies, materials, and technologies.

And special part of the exhibition contains PQ Eyewear collection designed by famous Israeli designer Ron Arad.

This fabulous exhibition guides us through the history of culture, communication, historical and economic changes and eximines vision and eyewear from human point of view.