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.

Textiles played an important role in the domestic interiors of Late Antiquity. They were at once luxury goods and status symbols, offered protection against the cold and draughts, and endowed living spaces with comfort, colour and grandeur. The masterfully designed wall hangings, curtains, bolsters and blankets that can be marvelled at in the Abegg-Stiftung's new exhibition give a vivid impression of the domestic culture of the age.

The Villa Abegg was built by Werner and Margaret Abegg in the 1960s in the style of north Italian Baroque. The interior with its historical wall-panelling contains antique furniture and works of art from the Renaissance to the Rococo, supplementing and extending the Abegg-Stiftung collection. Yet the villa has also retained the character of a private home that small, discreet groups of visitors are welcome to admire on guided tours. Each year, a different work of art or group of objects is brought to the fore.