Museum Arrangement

The Museum is currently arranged in two rooms.

• Displayed in the first are items related to everyday domestic life; these are arranged as they were in the traditional trousseau of every young bride: household linens with examples of items created for each specific area and purpose in the house (the bedroom, bathroom, dining room), as well as the bride's own personal trousseau, which is divided into lingerie and clothing. 
  Particularly beautiful examples of exquisite embroidery are provided by the two men's waistcoats and the cotton stockings dated 18^th century, the late 19^th-century christening robe, the 'ceremonial' aprons, also 19^th century, and the purses in punto Casale.

Clicca on the photos

• Preceding these two rooms is a section describing the techniques and materials, and a display of tools and documents relating to this area of women's work: spinning (a collection of bobbins, spindles, and reels) and embroidery (thimbles, scissors, pattern books and samplers). 

  Exhibited in the second room are church vestments and superb embroidered ecclesiastical robes belonging to the cathedral and other churches in the diocese of Pistoia, representing only a small part of a wealth of religious vestments. In this section the rare materials used, such as coloured silks and gold and silver thread, demonstrate the high level of technical ability reached by the convents of Pistoia where most of these works were produced.
  One of the most outstanding items is an impressive altar frontal in coloured silk, made in 1601 for the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, now seen in its original splendour after lengthy and careful restoration.