MUSEO DO ENCAIXE DE CAMARIÑAS.

The Lace Museum of Camariñas

The Museo do Encaixe of Camariñas was established in November, 1996. It was a desired project that, finally, the City Council of Camariñas set up.

The municipal initiative of creating a museum in Camariñas dedicated to the handmade lace has been the answer to a series of derived necessities of the Camariñas great wealth in etnographic heritage.

The handmade lace supposes an exceptional testimony of the survival of the arts and popular occupations in the district, being an exponent of the tradition that remains practically in its original contexts.

The responsibility has been assumed of recovering its historical memory, to conserve it and to spread it by means of the creation of this institution.

The general objectives are the following ones:
· To promote the knowledge and the spreading of a handmade work that remains alive since centuries in Camariñas and in other places of the district of Soneira, to which belongs this municipality. Consequently, it will be contributing to the promotion of the historical and artistic Galician heritage.
· The recovery of old pieces and designs used traditionally in the area.
· To establish a research and consulting center on the handmade lace of Camariñas.
· To boost the development and the evolution of the lace sector, by means of the training and the implementation of new technologies, so that an economic benefit can be added to the social and cultural benefit.
· To be a mediator instrument for the knowledge of the cultural characteristics that are common with other places and countries producing of handmade lace.
· To offer a public cultural service, added to the points of tourist interest that this municipality has.

PERMANENT EXHIBITION

The upper floor of the building hauses the permanent collection of the Museum, with 57,5 m2 for its exhibition.

In this room, different designs and pieces of Camariñas lace are shown, as well as the tools and materials used for its elaboration. The pieces are shown as cultural objects as well as historical documents.

It is also sought to show the places of introduction of this handmade activity, not only in Camariñas and district, but also in the Spanish state and abroad.

The exhibition, therefore, is organized by means of the following sections:

Camariñas lace:

- Numerous collection of samples on bobbin lace lace that were used and they are still used in the sale books of samples.
- Diverse pieces with lace, fundamentally of domestic trousseau.
- Examples of religious ceremonials and sacramental vestments belonging to the parrish church of Camariñas.
-Characteristic bobbins of Camariñas. The copies of old ones and designs of new creation.
- Old prickings.
- Pilows.

Other countries lace :
- Lace pieces, pillows and bobbins of the Czech Republic.
- Lace pieces, pillow and bobbins of Rauma. Finland.
- Lace pieces, pillow and bobbins of Novedrate. Italy.
- Lace pieces of Vila do Conde. Portugal.
- Lace pieces, flemish pillow and bobbins. Bégica.
- Lace pieces, pillow and bobbins of Toulouse. France
- Lace pieces, pillow and bobbins of England. Great Britain.
- Old lace collection (XVII-XIX centuries)

TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS

The room of temporary exhibitions houses the low plant of the building, with a surface of 57,4 m2. Since the opening, in the Museum they have taken place the following exhibitions:
- Multimedia installation "O encaixe of Camariñas e o seu entorno". April, 1998.
- I Prize of Photographic Creation "Luis Ksado". August, 1988.
- I Crafts Contest "Antonio Fraguas". November, 1988.

On exhibition now:
Multimedia installation "O encaixe of bolillos en catro museos europeos".
This exhibition reveals the museums that, together with that of Camariñas, collaborate in the creation of BLEN (BOBBIN LACE EUROPEAN NETWORK).

COMPLEMENTARY SERVICES

1. Photographic archive: old pictures related with the lace and its environment.
2. Library: specialized lace publications.
3. Documental archive: Relative documentation to the fitting.

The Museum do Encaixe de Camariñas is open to investigators that want to carry out consultations on the topic.

Data of interest:
Address: Praza Insuela s/n
15123 Camariñas. A Coruña. Spain
Telephone: +34 981 736340
E-mail: museo@blen.net

CAMARIÑAS LACE IN OTHER MUSEUMS:

The presence of the Camariñas lace in other museums is not very significant, but we find books of samples in the Museo do Pobo Galego (Santiago de Compostela. A Coruña) and in the Museo Etnográfico de Ponte do Porto (Camariñas. A Coruña) ; pieces with lace in the Museo das Mariñas (Betanzos. A Coruña) and, mainly, an important collection of old samples in the Museo Pedagógico Textil de la Universidad Complutense, Madrid.