Essilor, an insight into the past

Institution

Essilor

Expertise implemented

Heritage strategy audit and consulting
Managing heritage assets
Preventive conservation

Essilor at the heart of innovation

(Re)discovering the brand archives

170 Years of History Unveiled

The Essilor group archives, which travelled geographically and chronologically to reach us, are a valuable source of information on the group’s development and the history of its techniques and products.

Essilor’s rich heritage collection

This heritage collection consists of paper documents, photographs, audio-visual resources, and objects, including POS advertising, tools, machines and glasses and compasses.

Essilor at the heart of innovation

Since its inception in 1849, Essilor has consistently explored new technical and commercial avenues. For example, the group pioneered Orma organic glass and Varilux progressive glass, two revolutions in 20th-century ophthalmic optics.

The archives, testimony to this spirit of innovation

Numerous technical papers in the archives demonstrate the group’s innovations in optics and glasses.

This particular heritage requires a keen eye. A committee of heritage experts collaborated with Arkhênum’s teams to describe the optical tools no longer in use today.

Preserving the past, organizing the future

Physical and intellectual work began in 2021, covering the paper archives, spanning around 100 linear metres, and over 7,000 objects. This included 300 scientific instruments and tools for vision and precision, and an extensive eyewear collection (glasses and lenses) comprising several thousand items.

To address this large-scale project, Arkhênum is conducting a heritage strategy audit, creating an inventory and implementing scientific procedures. This work considers future integration into an internal database, a strategic objective that has been part of the project methodology from the outset.

 

Our missions: To inspire and sustain

Arkhênum’s involvement spans the whole heritage asset handling chain:
  • Auditing and stocktaking
  • Diagnosis and recommendations
  • Preventive conservation of inventory: dust removal and pollution treatment, condition assessments, marking, inventory, reconditioning.
  • Identifying items to be restored
  • Selecting appropriate items to be digitised
QUOTE
“Arkhênum is now providing long-term support with a real strategic vision,”

The Essilor Group intends to take a new look at its heritage. We have embarked on an ambitious project to work on our collection and renew our heritage management tools. We have made an appropriate choice of partner in Arkhênum, who have been professional, discreet and efficient from the consulting phases to the inventory and digitisation work. Arkhênum is now providing long-term support with a real strategic vision, perfectly in line with our challenges and requirements.

Benoit Giraud – Heritage Project Manager

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