TEXTILE AND DECORATIVE ARTS MUSEUM, LYON
 

TEXTILE MUSEUM : This collection of textiles is a source of inspiration for contemporary creations. East and West are the two poles of the Museum collections. Coptic tapestries, Sassanid Persian textiles, Byzantine and Muslim fabrics, Asia Minor carpets reflect the very essence of the history of Oriental civilisations. Sicily and the Italian Republics played a major role in the origin of silk weaving in Europe, soon followed by the quick development of the French silk production. Lyons production is given pride of place with ornamentists such as Pillement, Philippe de Lasalle or Dugourc.
DECORATIVE ARTS MUSEUM : The Decorative Arts Museum is complementary to the Textile Museum as it displays ancient textiles as a decoration of an eighteenth century private residence. The silks shown were woven by well-known silk merchants : Tassinari and Chatel, Prelle and Quenin ? Lelièvre. The Museum is witness to the craftsmanship of textile weavers in Lyons and the near by region. It is one of the few museums in France to show , in an eighteenth century setting, one of the richest collection of decorative objects. Though this museum conveys a typical eighteenth century atmosphere, it also highlights fine collections of fifteenth and sixteenth centuries Italian Majolica, Middle Ages and Renaissance tapestries and a collection of clocks. The museum also welcomes contemporary creations and displays silverwares, from the sixties to the present day.
Both museums are in the same building.

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