In 1952 Krystyna Kondratiukowa organised the Department of Textiles in the Art Museum in Łódź, which was transformed later into a Branch of the Museum, and in 1960 into the Museum of Textile History established as the Central Museum of Textiles in 1975. The seat of the Museum is “The White Factory”, a magnificent complex of classicist buildings, build by Ludwik Geyer in the years 1835-39.

In its research work, collection and educational activities, the Museum is interested in all aspects of textile production from fibres via textile techniques and technologies to the final textile product. The Museum organises the International Triennial of Tapestry in Łódź, at present the oldest and greatest international exhibition promoting contemporary tapestry.

The Department possesses three separate collections: antique tapestries, contemporary textiles, and documentation. In the group of antique tapestries we can find textiles ranging from the 5^th century to the first half of the 20^th century, characteristic of West European, oriental and Polish weaving. The collection of contemporary textiles reflects the most recent history of Polish tapestry from 1945: jacquards, painted tapestries, rugs, woven tapestries and carpets made in workshops of the “Ład” Art Co-operative, in the art academies of Łódź, Warsaw, Sopot, Poznań, and Cracow, as well as outstanding experimental realisations by internationally renowned Polish artists, prize-winners of the greatest world competitions in Łódź, Kyoto, Lausanne, Venice and Sao Paolo. The collection of documents includes several thousand designs and cartoons of rugs and wall-hangings.

The Department is in possession of a collection of industrial textiles which is the largest in Poland and one of the largest in the world, supplemented by sketches, designs, cartoons and technical drawings of fabrics which date back to the beginnings of the 19^th century (over 100,000 items). The items constitute a documentation of production and design achievements of all outstanding textile mills in the Łódź region as well as in other main Polish centres.

The objects of the Department’s activity are textile tools, machines and appliances linked with the last two centuries of textile production, especially in the region of Łódź.

The Department collects items and is engaged in scientific research concerning the history of the textile industry in Poland, both in guilds and mills, with special attention to the Łódź industrial region. Particularly interesting is the largest collection in Poland of shares and stocks of Polish textile companies, guild and factory flags, medals and company prints.

The Museum organises the International Triennial of Tapestry in Łódź and about 12-15 exhibitions every year. In the course of its history the Museum exported over 200 exhibitions to several dozen countries.

The Department concentrates upon promotion activities, offers information to individual visitors and groups, organises lessons, lectures, meetings and competitions, e.g. “The International Triennial of Tapestry in Łódź As Seen by Young People”.

CENTRALNE MUZEUM WŁÓKIENNICTWA

E-mail: ctmustex@muzeumwlokiennictwa.muz.pl

http://www.muzeumwlokiennictwa.muz.pl