Permanent Exhibition of Folk Costumes

The permanent exhibition, located in the northern wing of the first floor, presents folk costumes from Croatia dating from the end of the 19th and the first half of the 20th century, arranged according to cultural regions: eastern, central and north-western Croatia, mountainous Croatia and the Adriatic hinterland, and coastal Croatia. The exhibited examples testify to the level of textile craftsmanship of each region, as well as to the social position of their owners (from age to position within the family community). Particularly noteworthy are the picturesque costumes of the area north of Zagreb, the work of male semi-professional weavers; the rich linen weaving of women’s costume from the Croatian Posavina; the Slavonian men’s and women’s costume decorated with gold thread embroidery; the bridal costume from Vrlika with its large veil decorated with coins as a symbol of the dowry; as well as linen shirts and headdresses from Pag decorated with needlepoint lace, and the silk embroidery on the chest of women’s costume from Konavle in southern Croatia. Alongside the costumes, other objects related to everyday life in the predominantly rural regions of Croatia are displayed, such as household inventory, musical instruments, objects linked to customs and beliefs, and the products of traditional crafts such as gingerbread hearts and wooden children’s toys.