This book tells the fascinating story of how eyewear and optical instruments evolved from the thirteenth century through to the present day. It takes its cue from the precious and eclectic collections of the Galleria Guglielmo Tabacchi, of which it is also a catalogue.The reader is taken into the historical and social worlds in which outstanding inventions appeared: from pivot spectacles through to lorgnettes and on to the rock memorabilia of Elvis Presley and Elton John, and we also see such treasures as Gian Antonio Guardi's painting and Arman's accumulation. This is a journey through art, fashion, music, and science, where the past lives alongside the present, resolutely looking towards the future.