Abegg-Stiftung

Ancient Textiles the Star Attraction

When a unique historic textile needs to be conserved, the Abegg-Stiftung, as a renowned international centre of competence in this art, has the necessary know-how. Here textiles are researched and conserved according to highest standards.

The Abegg-Stiftung is attractive to the general public because it houses one of the world’s most important textile collections. Visitors are invited to discover precious fabrics and other works of art from different artistic epochs and regions in the permanent exhibition with its innovative lighting technology. Early Persian bronzes, central Asian silk kaftans, gold brocaded velvets as well as paintings from the workshops of Rogier van der Weyden and Sandro Botticelli are on view.

 

 

18th-century clothing in the permanent exhibition. ©Abegg-Stiftung, CH-3132 Riggisberg (photo: Christoph von Viràg
Abegg-Stiftung
Highlights of the collection
Permanent exhibition

The permanent exhibition presents the highlights of the collection. These include ancient wall hangings preserved in the sandy deserts of Egypt, kaftans from Central Asia and Mongolia, silk robes from China’s Liao Dynasty and sumptuous fabrics woven in Europe between the twelfth and eighteenth centuries. Paintings, sculptures and important works of applied art are also exhibited and shed light on the interrelationships between textiles and other arts.