Museum
of Greek Folk Art
The Museum of Greek Folk Art belongs to the state and comes under
the Ministry of Culture. It was founded in 1918 under the name
"Museum of Greek Handicrafts" and was housed in the
Tsisdarakis Mosque in Monastiraki Square. In 1923 it was renamed
the "National Museum of Decorative Arts". It was given
its present name in 1959.
Until
1973 the museum was housed in the Tsisdarakis in Monastiraki Square.
Its main functions were then transferred to the building at Kydathinaion
17 in Plaka. There are museum annexes in the Tzami where the "V.
Kyriazopoulos collection of folk pottery" now is housed as
well as in the building at Kyrrestou 8, known as the "Baths
of Athena" and the building at Thespidos 8 in Plaka.
The
Museum owns rich collections of objects representing all branches
of folk art: embroidery, weaving, costumes, masquerades, shadow
theatre, silver work, metalwork, pottery, woodcarving, folk painting
(works of Theophilos Hatzimichail) and stone carving. The collection
dates from 1650 until today.
The
ground floor is dedicated to embroidery exhibits, including elaborate
articles made for the matrimonial bed using symbolic and narrative
subjects. On the mezzanine there is a small pottery collection
from Skyros and Tsanakkale as well as metalwork and artifacts
carved in wood such as utensils and objects of worship from all
over Greece. There also are five costumes from masquerade celebrations
from Nikissiani of Kavala, Kali Vrissi of Drama Sochos of Thessaloniki
and of Naoussa and Skyros. Opposite is a reconstruction of an
entire stage with all the popular heroes of the folk shadow theater.
The
first floor is largely dedicated to temporary exhibitions while
the rest of the floor houses a permanent exhibition of works by
Theofilos Chatzimichail (1868-1934), an outstanding modern Greek
naïve painter. Among his most impressive works are murals
removed from a house in Mitilini.
On
the second floor visitors can admire silverwork, divided into
ecclesiastical objects (crosses, chalises, cherubim, shrines and
gospel covers) and secular objects (trays, weaponry, flintlock
pistols, cartridge belts, powder flasks, scimitars) as well as
women’s jewelry (coronets, earrings and clasps). All these
objects display elaborate decorations inspired by nature as well
as by Christian symbols.
The
highest floor of the museum is dedicated to traditional costume
from all over Greece. Both male and female costumes are shown,
festive wear, particularly for weddings, and daily costumes, some
plain, some colorful and richly decorated.
The
Museum of Greek Folk Art also has a library with 5.000 volumes
on folk art, folklore, ethnology and museology as well as rich
photographic, film and sound archives. The conservations laboratory
for museum objects is staffed by specialists in the conservations
of fabrics and different materials, especially wood and metal.
Finally,
the museum organizes educational programs, creative workshops
for children, pottery classes and shadow theatre performances.
On the last Sunday of carnival, the museum mounts a festival based
in Kidathinaion Street and the surrounding area. Dance groups
from all over Greece perform traditional carnival dances and dances
relating to fertility rites and nature worship.
The
Tsisdarakis Mosque, which houses the V. Kyriazopoulos Collection
of Folk Pottery, the old Ottoman Baths at 8, Kirristou Street
and the building at 8, Thespidos Street in Plaka are all branches
of the museum. In addition, a collection of tools relating to
professions has recently been mounted at 22, Panos Street in Plaka.
This permanent exhibition has a modern approach towards the exhibition
concept and aims to familiarize visitors with the idea of work
in traditional societies.
Opening hours and admission
6 Ang. Hadjimichali - Plaka
Syntagma - Monastiraki
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