Lace Exhibitions

Every summer the museum has an exhibition of foreign lace at the Old Town Hall. Exhibitions have been held already since 1978, and almost all European countries have been represented. At the moment we are in the midst of a round, which presents local lace traditions. Russian lace from Vologda was presented in 2005. 2006 will bring lace from Galicia, Spain to Rauma. The Rauma Museum also has exhibitions abroad. In 2005 it held an exhibition in Idrija, Slovenia. In 2006 the Museum will bring a lace exhibition to Lepoglava, Croatia.

Lace Studies

The Rauma Museum does its own lace research, but it also has co-operation with universities and other educational establishments when studies are made about Rauma lace or lace making.

A major study of the history of Rauma lace and Finnish bobbin lace in general is still Aino Linnove’s dissertation from 1947. It deals with the phases of development of Finnish lace making from the 16^th century to the 1850’s.
 

Collections                          

The collections of the Rauma Museum consist of objects and photographs of over 100 000 units. The museum also holds archival material, books etc. Material linked to laces consists mainly of lace samples, lace patterns, bobbin lace pillows, silk caps, and other accessories and linens connected to the use of lace. Archival material consists for example of photographs, interviews, and some old documents linked to lace.