From Chests and Hiding Places - Konnevesi Museum Clothing

"From Chests and Hiding Places" is a collaborative exhibition between Konnevesi Museum and Galleria Käpy, presenting local clothing history from the turn of the century to the 1950s. The exhibition displays clothes, accessories, linen goods, and shoes collected from the region - the oldest item is a red and black crocheted belt for a fur coat. Both men's and women's underwear has been extensively patched and mended, but the collection also includes festive and wedding dresses with shoes. From the museum's photo collection, a separate selection is on display in the café. The exhibition also highlights the museum's collection work: an expert archaeologist reviewed the textile collection in summer 2024.

In Konnevesi, fabrics were woven from locally grown flax and warm clothing, headdresses, socks, and mittens were knitted from sheep's wool. Leather was processed, and skilled seamstresses, tailors, and shoemakers could be found in the village or nearby communities. Instructions were sought from newspapers, sewing societies, and courses. The collection work was done by volunteers, and cataloguing and archiving have become an inspiring hobby for the museum staff.

The exhibition is accompanied by a programme series:

12.6. at 18:00 Opening: Eila Tiainen and Kati Laine-Rissanen

28.6. at 15:00 Konnevesi Museum's collection work: Jouko Leskinen and museum staff

12.7. at 15:00 The collection researcher's address: archaeologist Saara Tuovinen

17.7. at 15:00 Textile conservation - examples and challenges: Anni Tuominen, Museum of Finnish Handicrafts

20.7. at 15:00 Sewing societies, women's handicraft interests and charity - a reminiscence gathering

9.8. at 15:00 Memories of clothing and celebrations, church headscarves and dress codes from the 1920s onwards - a reminiscence gathering

16.8. at 15:00 Closing, airing of aprons and announcement of the handicraft competition results

Exhibition working group: Hanne Laitinen and Anna-Maija Keurulainen (Galleria Käpy) and Jouko Leskinen (Konnevesi Local History Society). Expert assistance has been received from the Museum of Finnish Handicrafts, Central Finland Museum, and archaeologist Saara Tuovinen. The exhibition has received funding from the Finnish Cultural Foundation.