History
The Como Silk Museum is the only museum institution in the world capable of telling you about the entire production process, from the silkworm to the colored yarns, from hand printing to fashion collections.
The Museum collects, preserves and displays evidence of the Como textile production tradition, such as machines, objects, documents, samples and work tools from the textile processes that gave rise to the golden age of silk in Como.
Origins
In 1985, the associations Classe ’27 and Ex Allievi del Setificio started collecting material belonging to silk factories (photo 1) based in Como.
In the 1960s, the textile industry started changing because of fundamental reorganisation and, in the 1980s, the silk factories left their premises definitively (photos 2 and 3). This made it possible to gather together machinery and other material to hand down the history and work of the silk industry to future generations.
In 1988, Comitato per la costituzione del Museo della Seta (the Committee charged with bringing the Silk Museum to life) was founded. The Committee enhanced and displayed its first exhibits during “Mostra permanente di reperti storici dell’industria della seta” promoted by Provincia di Como, Cassa di Risparmio delle Province Lombarde and Istituto Tecnico Industriale Statale “Paolo Carcano”.
The Educational Silk Museum, representing the history of Como silk production, was opened in 1990.
Development
The number of exhibits gradually increased throughout the years; the Museum staff, other experts and technicians of silk production, industrial history and craftsmanship of the period 1850-1950, had the important task of maintaining the historical and cultural identity of the machines.
In 1992, Associazione per il Museo della Seta di Como was constituted to support the new Museum and help it carry on with its activities, principally its educational mission.
Public and private organisations and institutions of this industry, as well as individuals, are members of the Association which, in 1999, became a legal entity.
Between 1994 and 1998, the Museum expanded: it welcomed numerous donations of machinery and instruments integrating and completing the museum exhibition. This was made possible thanks to the contribution of Fondazione Cariplo and Regione Lombardia.
In 1995, the Association promoted an international competition for someone to create the Museum logo; the competition was won by Simona Zamperini and Gabriella Ornaghi from Milan.
Today
The Museum extends over a surface of 1000 square metres and its exhibits reconstruct the silk manufacturing process with an historical and educational approach.
Moreover, the visitor is given the opportunity to learn more about both the whole process and the single phases that make it up. In some cases, the dimensions of the rooms make the exposition of cumbersome machines feasible.
The machines were donated to the Museum and all restoration work was carried out by keeping the original mechanisms. The Museum has archives and warehouses where an indispensable heritage of machines and various objects is stored to augment the permanent exhibition.
The area and the building
The educational silk museum is located in the partially underground rooms of the building inserted in the vast building complex which includes, in addition to the "Paolo Carcano" State Industrial Technical Institute, the consortium Serico Spa Textile Center, for training and technological updating, the Experimental Station for Silk, for research and services in the silk and textile sector in general; since 1990 the Como branches of the University of Insubria and the Polytechnic of Milan have been present here.
Room plan
A specific work cycle is set up in each room and the exhibition itinerary illustrates, also with the use of textile products, the progress of the silk industry in its scientific, technological and creative aspects.
The Museum collects, preserves and displays evidence of the Como textile production tradition, such as machines, objects, documents, samples and work tools from the textile processes that gave rise to the golden age of silk in Como.
Origins
In 1985, the associations Classe ’27 and Ex Allievi del Setificio started collecting material belonging to silk factories (photo 1) based in Como.
In the 1960s, the textile industry started changing because of fundamental reorganisation and, in the 1980s, the silk factories left their premises definitively (photos 2 and 3). This made it possible to gather together machinery and other material to hand down the history and work of the silk industry to future generations.
In 1988, Comitato per la costituzione del Museo della Seta (the Committee charged with bringing the Silk Museum to life) was founded. The Committee enhanced and displayed its first exhibits during “Mostra permanente di reperti storici dell’industria della seta” promoted by Provincia di Como, Cassa di Risparmio delle Province Lombarde and Istituto Tecnico Industriale Statale “Paolo Carcano”.
The Educational Silk Museum, representing the history of Como silk production, was opened in 1990.
Development
The number of exhibits gradually increased throughout the years; the Museum staff, other experts and technicians of silk production, industrial history and craftsmanship of the period 1850-1950, had the important task of maintaining the historical and cultural identity of the machines.
In 1992, Associazione per il Museo della Seta di Como was constituted to support the new Museum and help it carry on with its activities, principally its educational mission.
Public and private organisations and institutions of this industry, as well as individuals, are members of the Association which, in 1999, became a legal entity.
Between 1994 and 1998, the Museum expanded: it welcomed numerous donations of machinery and instruments integrating and completing the museum exhibition. This was made possible thanks to the contribution of Fondazione Cariplo and Regione Lombardia.
In 1995, the Association promoted an international competition for someone to create the Museum logo; the competition was won by Simona Zamperini and Gabriella Ornaghi from Milan.
Today
The Museum extends over a surface of 1000 square metres and its exhibits reconstruct the silk manufacturing process with an historical and educational approach.
Moreover, the visitor is given the opportunity to learn more about both the whole process and the single phases that make it up. In some cases, the dimensions of the rooms make the exposition of cumbersome machines feasible.
The machines were donated to the Museum and all restoration work was carried out by keeping the original mechanisms. The Museum has archives and warehouses where an indispensable heritage of machines and various objects is stored to augment the permanent exhibition.
The area and the building
The educational silk museum is located in the partially underground rooms of the building inserted in the vast building complex which includes, in addition to the "Paolo Carcano" State Industrial Technical Institute, the consortium Serico Spa Textile Center, for training and technological updating, the Experimental Station for Silk, for research and services in the silk and textile sector in general; since 1990 the Como branches of the University of Insubria and the Polytechnic of Milan have been present here.
Room plan
A specific work cycle is set up in each room and the exhibition itinerary illustrates, also with the use of textile products, the progress of the silk industry in its scientific, technological and creative aspects.
Room plan
A visit to the museum through 10 rooms (PDF)
A visit to the museum through 10 rooms (LIS Video)
Virtual Tour
