Seven centuries of history in a single museum, that is something that any such institution should be proud. Only this unusual and small Dutch museum has one of the largest collection of ... spectacles. Eye-glasses. Call them whatever you want, but surely it is a lot. Ranging from ancient examples of corrective and useful such object to really ridiculous or elegant ones, the place has them all. The objects exhibited here, even if they are not exactly art (although they have a certain charm) have been amassed by four generations of passionate collectors, and surely will not stop here.
2. Perfume Museum, Barcelona, Spain
It was officially opened in 1963 as a space for these powerful or delicate scents, easily forgotten or making history in their field, created by famous names or by inspired artists which are now almost forgotten, all in all over 300 different perfumes, and some of the bottles are in themselves works of art. Not only that, but the curators have managed not only to show this delicate exhibits, but to create through documents and photographs a fascinating tour of perfume history, from ancient times to the Renaissance passion for scents and coming about nowadays. Surely a museum for everyone.
3. Bread Museum, Ulm, Germany
Who would have thought that bread would one day be the "hero" and main subject for a whole museum. And not just a room in some bakery, we are talking about a whole building dedicated to the history of bread. With over 18.000 exhibits in storage and about 700 in the permanent exhibition, ranging from art and ancient objects to documents about how important bread was throughout times and eras, together with little known facts and manufacturing secrets, it is a memorable museum. Slightly bizzare, maybe. But memorable.
4. UFO Museum, Roswell, USA
Martians, UFOs (or maybe you preffer the term flying saucers), abductions and conspiracy theories, strange artefacts that could rewrite world history, and don't forget the generous gift shop. Nobody knows for sure what happened here in July 1947, but the museum offers a lot of theories and little known information. Do they exist? Do they not?
5. Counterfeit Museum, Paris, France
What could be counterfeited? A question to which this museum could answer : nearly everything. Opened in 1951, it gathers together paintings and cigarettes, DVDs and toys, electronics and clothes, jewels, books, decorative art and on and on. Many, to an untrained eye, seem to be the real thing. Only they are fake. Really fake. Some of the counterfeit items are so well made that they could fool even a trained specialist, which makes them, in a way, a piece of art.
Photo:amsterdam.info
