Museum of Jewellery in the Vía de la Plata
Museo de las Alhajas en la Vía de la Plata | |
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| Established | 2011 |
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| Location | Calle Juan de Mansilla, 10 La Bañeza, León Spain |
| Coordinates | 42°17′57″N 5°53′48″W / 42.29917°N 5.89667°W |
| Website | www.museoalhajas.es |
The Museum of Jewellery in the Silver Way (Alhajas en la Vía de la Plata in Spanish) is located in the center of La Bañeza (León), close to Plaza Mayor, in a modernist building of the beginning of the 20th century, best known as the 'Casa de doña Josefina'.
History
Its creation is the result of an agreement signed between the Carvajal-Cavero family, owner of the collection, and the Town Hall of La Bañeza. This collection, assembled during more than four decades, is composed of over 3,000 pieces of jewellery (from the 16th to the 18th century) and traditional Spanish clothing (19th century), especially of the Silver Way and the Province of León. It was inaugurated on March 25, 2011.[1]
At the beginning of February 2012 the Museum reached 5,000 visitors,[2] and on June 30, July 1 and 2 of that year was the site of the First European Congress of Jewellery.[3]
Exhibition
The Museum of Jewellery, which permanent exhibition is renewed every year, consists of seven rooms:
- Childhood room (room I), where you can admire folk costumes children used to wear, and jewellery items such as protective amulets or silver rattles.
- Youth Room (room II), shows clothing and jewels young people sported to highlight its beauty.
- Adult room (room III), contains clothes loaded with ornaments, silks and embroidery.
- Jewellery rooms (rooms IV, V, VI and VII), in which you can appreciate pieces of jet (rosaries, necklaces, amulets…); many types of earrings; 'collaradas' (big necklaces made of many precious pieces)[4] and 'coraladas' (big necklaces made with Mediterranean coral).
An essential elements of folk costume is the traditional Manila shawl. The Museum owns a 'Manilas' significant collection (including shawls with little heads made of ivory or mother-of-pearl).
Museum facilities
Guided visits
Shop where you can buy books about Museum’s items,[5][6] jewels collection replicas (necklaces, earrings, medals…) and souvenirs (pens, postcards, bookmarks).
References
- ^ El Mundo, El Museo de las Alhajas se inaugura en La Bañeza tras 8 años de trabajo, 2011-03-25. Accessed online 2014-07-16.
- ^ El Mundo, El Museo de las Alhajas de La Bañeza recibe a su visitante número 5.000, 2012-02-08. Accessed online 2014-07-16.
- ^ Diario de León, El congreso de joyería reúne a medio centenar de expertos, 2012-07-01. Accessed online 2014-07-16.
- ^ Diario de León, Galería de fotos El Museo de Alhajas de La Bañeza - Foto 17: Collarada sobre traje de tornaboda - Norberto, 2011-05-03. Accessed online 2014-07-16.
- ^ Carvajal Cavero, Julio Manuel (2012). Alhajas en la Vía de la Plata. Spain: Monte Riego Ediciones. ISBN 978-84-93982416.
- ^ Cavero, Olga; Alonso, Joaquín (2002). Indumentaria y joyería tradicional de La Bañeza y su comarca. Spain: Instituto Leonés de Cultura, Diputación Provincial de León. ISBN 84-95702-16-9.