Section 6 - Clothing - Popular Devotion

In the Toirano valley, people cultivated olive trees, vines, and wheat, while trades such as blacksmithing and shoemaking were also widespread. But how did these people dress?To find out, we move to the first floor of the palace, where a room is dedicated to period clothing and costume. The display cases feature garments, christening covers made of organza and cotton thread, women’s work clothes, and festive dresses, all complemented by gold and silver jewellery from the 18th and 19th centuries. We have already mentioned the dowry chests that contained embroidered by the bride: a true tradition, present in every home. The ones displayed here belonged to ordinary families and date back to the 18th century. On the other hand, the wardrobe, made of conifer wood, dates to the 19th century, while the chest of drawers is from the early 20th century.Be sure to notice the religious artefacts and prints as well, which bear witness to a strong sense of domestic devotion. In many ways, this is not so different from many modern-day Italian homes!  It would seem that customs and habits have changed faster in the last few decades than they did in the previous centuries.We conclude this section with a closer look at the 19th-century dining room, featuring an Art Nouveau painted ceiling and furnished with pieces crafted by local artisans. The ceramics on display are of Italian and French origin.Last but not least, here we can also see a complete watch-repair workshop, comprising around 1,400 pieces. It belonged to a craftsman from Toirano and dates from the late 19th century to the first three decades of the 20th century.