Philipine de Girard Linen Museum is no doubt, one of the most fascinating points of interest on the trail of industrial Mazovia. Żyrardów’s traditions date back all the way to the year 1829 and are interwoven with the development of Europe’s most powerful linen industry centre – The Factory of Linen Products.
THE HISTORIC PRINTING HOUSE OF THE LINEN FACTORY
The seat of the Linen Museum is part of the historic 19th -century factory settlement complex in Żyrardów, which is considered a historic monument – the highest form of recognition objects of cultural heritage can receive in Poland. It was here where beautiful linen tablecloths, serviettes and fabrics decorated with colourful, fashionable at the time prints were created decades ago. Today the building holds the “Silkscreen & Textile” exhibition, dedicated to the printing department at the Factory of Linen Products in Żyrardów. This exhibition is the biggest collection
of large format silkscreen stencils, once used for dyeing fabrics, in Poland. The monumental, post-industrial interiors of the Linen Museum stand out because of their raw form, picturing a realistic image of the Factory in the 80s. The legacy of the textile industry and each of the departments of the former Factory can be admired at the museum exhibitions.
THE MUSEUM COLLECTION
The Museum holds several dozen historic machines, presenting the technological timeline that shows the most important parts of raw material processing and producing linen fabrics. Among them is a loom that had been used to break a Guinness record for the longest tablecloth in the world, the only working jacquard looms park with a Verdola attachment in Poland, two massive sectional warping mills and a collection of decorative sewing machines. Majority of them date back to the 70s-80s of the 20th century, however there are also a couple one-offs from the beginning of the 20th century. Thanks to the collection of original show-pieces, the Museum keeps the memory of the Factory in Żyrardów alive, back when it was working at full steam, employing between 5 to 9 thousand workers.
THE MUSEUM WEAVING MANUFACTURE
The first step to renewing the production of linen fabrics in Żyrardów was the acquisition of sixteen antique jacquard looms in 2020. In the present day the old machines are now booted up in the summer for demonstration purposes. The patterns recreated on them are the legacy of industrial design from the 60s-70s of the 20th century. One of the Museum’s top priorities is to engage in collaboration with former employees of the Factory. It is thanks to their involvement that the Museum can provide an educational programme expanding knowledge about jobs that
are slowly becoming obsolete. One of the Museum’s priorities is to establish cooperation with former employees of the Żyrardów Factory. Thanks to their commitment, the Museum is carrying out an educational program designed to expand knowledge and skills related to disappearing trades.
This museum is a tribute of sorts to the workers at the Żyrardów factories and their hard work. It is a place that preserves the remnants of the factory’s former glory, a place that will serve future generations as a thread connecting the past with the present and the future.
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