READY TO REOPEN! The Prato Textile Museum
It’s time to go back to visit museums!
The Textile Museum will reopen to the public on May 19th with the exhibition “Pinocchio through the costumes of Massimo Cantini Parrini from the movie of Matteo Garrone” which is extended until October 25th 2020.
Massimo Cantini Parrini, source https://www.museodeltessuto.it/?lang=en
Two sections are presented in the exhibition: one dedicated to the sources that inspire Parrini’s creative work, including some sketches made for the film and a selection of 7 historical 18th and 19th century garments from the costume designer’s personal collection, and a second section in which thirty-two costumes made by the award-winning costume designer to dress the main characters of the film are on display.
Exhibition overview, source https://www.museodeltessuto.it/?lang=en
On the occasion of the reopening, visitors will have free admission until June 3, 2020. An incentive to resume the habit of visiting the places of culture in person, always in compliance with safety measures and with the certainty to do ever possible, and even more, to protect the safety of the visitors.
The new opening hours from 19 May to 3 June included are:
Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday: 16-20
Friday-Saturday-Sunday: 10-20
No reservation is required. Free entrance.
THE MUSEUM COLLECTIONS
In addition to exhibitions and temporary installations, the Museum houses a series of prestigious collections:
Historic textiles and sacred vestments: embroidered and printed textiles produced in Europe and dating from the thirteenth to the twentieth century, present in a vast array of types (velvets, tapestries, Perugia tablecloths, damasks, lampas) and decorative forms that illustrate the most significant moments in the development of the European production.
Textile fragment, France, mid-XVIII cent. Grosgrain with brocade borders; Silk, source https://www.museodeltessuto.it/?lang=en
Textile fragment, Italy, mid-XVI cent. Figured polychrome velvet; Silk, source https://www.museodeltessuto.it/?lang=en
Embroidered textiles and artefacts: samples of Italian and European embroidery featured on articles dating from the fifteenth to the twentieth century, or received through historical collections in a fragmentary condition.
Fragment of embroidered fabric, Florentine, source https://www.museodeltessuto.it/?lang=en
Ethnic textiles and garments: a collection of great historical and anthropological interest, including textiles from India, Indonesia, Yemen, Central and South America, China and Japan, which, with their decorations and symbology, recall the importance of textile art as a valid instrument of social communication.
Ganeshtapan (devotional panel), source https://www.museodeltessuto.it/?lang=en
Shoowa, Central Africa, Kuba culture, XX cent., source https://www.museodeltessuto.it/?lang=en
Archaeological textiles: a rare collection of textile fragments from excavations or burials, belonging to Coptic culture (III-X century AD) and pre-Columbian culture (Late Intermediate Period).
Textile fragment, Peru, Late Intermediate, source https://www.museodeltessuto.it/?lang=en
Samples from Prato: a collection of sample books from the longest-established companies in the Prato district, documenting the evolution of production and the changes in taste and style from the last quarter of the nineteenth century up to the contemporary period.
Sampler book, France 1925-1930. Printed fabrics, source https://www.museodeltessuto.it/?lang=en
Contemporary fabrics: a selection of fabrics produced in the Prato district of particular importance for the technological innovation and expression of fashion trends since 1976, the year that the Prato Expo textile fair was inaugurated, which later became Prato Expo, up until recent years.
Jacquard fabric with ogival link design, Prato, sourcehttps://www.museodeltessuto.it/?lang=en
Sketches and artist’s textiles: these include examples created by artists from the first half of the twentieth century (Raoul Dufy and Thayaht) and contemporary artists (Giò Pomodoro and Bruno Munari), who found an expressive form for their creativity in textiles.
Page of a swatch book, Raoul Dufy for Maison, sourcehttps://www.museodeltessuto.it/?lang=en
Garments and accessories: a collection of clothing that bears witness to the evolution of costume from the sixteenth century to the present day.
Machinery: manual looms, fulling equipment, a willowing machine, weaving preparation tools such as spinning machines, winders, warpers, manufactured in Italy.
PROJECTS
The Museum partecipate in numerous cultural and local marketing pojects that evaluate local and international textile traditions as well as projects on creativity applied to design, in partnership with Italian and foreign cultural institutions, museums, universities, companies and universities.
For information on ongoing projects:
https://www.museodeltessuto.it/attivita/projects/?lang=en
Prato Textile Museum
Via Puccetti 3 – 59100 Prato (PO)
+39 0574 611503
SOURCES:
All photographic and documentary material has been taken from the Museum’s website and is covered by copyright.