Housed within a historic villa originally located in the Łódź suburb of Ruda Pabianicka, the exhibit recreates the ambiance of a prewar resort, complete with activities and furnishings from that era.
The Last Summer showcases leisurely pastimes and serves as a tactile archive of the era's lifestyle and culture, making it a must-visit for anyone interested in the design and history of early 20th-century Poland.
The exhibit vividly brings to life a bygone era through the active participation of its visitors.
"The Last Summer complements our offerings related to the permanent exhibitions of the Łódź Microhistories, Human Microhistories series, which presents ordinary life of the people of Łódź at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries," said Aneta Dalbiak, director of the museum.
Aneta Dalbiak, director of the Central Museum of Textiles in Łódź, central Poland. Photo: PAP/Grzegorz Michałowski
"This time, once again, we are breaking stereotypes and instead of prohibiting, we encourage touching and using the exhibits," she added.
Visitors can immerse themselves in the pastimes of their great-grandparents by engaging in forgotten games such as croquet and serso, or relaxing in an armchair with period newspapers.
The villa, which now stands on the museum grounds, was a prewar resting spot for wealthy industrialists. It was moved to its current location in 2008 from Scaleniowa Street in Ruda Pabianicka, a place that was once a popular suburban getaway.
The exhibition features over 1,000 reprinted pages of old newspapers which visitors can touch and read, which is unusual as most museums typically display such items behind glass.
Additional interactive elements include playing on a vintage piano, listening to old records, and exploring authentic maps.
Most items on display are original pieces bought at auctions and antique shops, though some are replicas of prewar originals that were either hard to find or damaged. This allows visitors to physically interact with objects designed a century ago.
The villa's rich history has been meticulously researched for this exhibition.
Marcin Antczak from the museum's library and archive department detailed the building's transformation from a residential structure to its current exhibition role.
Information about the villa's past and the fictional heroes, the Piechowicz family, who are portrayed as its 1939 summer residents, enrich the historical context provided to visitors.
Magda Gonera, the exhibit’s curator, noted the challenge of reimagining spaces that no longer have photographic evidence. The exhibit is also a celebration of vintage design and craftsmanship, showcasing authentic furniture, toys, dining sets and carpets from the interwar period.
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP, cmwl.pl
