MITA (International Museum of Antique Carpet), inaugurated in Brescia (Italy) in October 2023, is devoted to the preservation, study and display of more than 1300 textiles from the 15th to the beginning of the 20th century. Essentially covering the history of the world’s manufacture of carpets, the artefacts come mostly from Asia, but also from Europe and North Africa. The Asian section especially includes the following areas: Persia, Anatolia, the Caucasus, Central Asia, India, China and Japan.
Among the artefacts – some of which are very rare in terms of period and provenance – there are carpets of any size and purpose: from large ones produced for palaces and mosques to small prayer carpets. The dialogue and the interaction between different cultures emerge while observing the variety of pieces in the collection, each standing out, at the same time, with its own specific and individual features. The many decorative themes and motifs range from stylised gardens to geometric patterns, from plant motifs to abstract decorations.
India, prima metà del XVII secolo / first half 17th century
cm 456 x 300
Inv. 109289
Anatolia occidentale / Western Anatolia, XVIII secolo / 18th century
cm 189 x 163
Inv. 150840
This invaluable textile heritage has been gathered by entrepreneur and passionate connoisseur Romain Zaleski and it is considered the most complete private collection of antique carpets in the world. Started more than 50 years ago, the collection continues to grow thanks to new acquisitions and it has become renowned through exhibitions in many Italian institutions and through frequent international loans.
Caucaso orientale / Eastern Caucasus, seconda metà del XVIII secolo / second half 18th century
cm 277 x 162
Inv. 112524
Siria / Syria, seconda metà del XVI secolo / second half 16th century
cm 275 x 194
Inv. 161128
The museum is also the venue of the new cultural centre of the Tassara Foundation as it proposes itself as a space of encounter and comparison between cultures of the East and cultures of the West, between tradition and contemporaneity. Located in a dynamic urban area that is undergoing a process of regeneration, MITA encourages an intergenerational and intercultural dialogue trying to engage a wide and varied public. One of MITA’s goals is to promote multidisciplinary research with an international perspective by hosting specialists, researchers and students from around the world.
The cutting-edge architectural design of the museum, built on the site of a former foundry, reflects its social impact. As a matter of fact, MITA has been planned as an open space of socialisation and inclusion that allows one to appreciate the artefacts displayed by means of perceptual experience shared with other visitors as well as in a more personal and contemplative manner.
The new museum has already presented two exhibitions to its public, accompanied by a series of events, such as concerts and lectures. The first has highlighted some of the collection’s masterpieces. The second has been dedicated to Persian carpets, narrating the cities, the buildings, the gardens, and the arts of Persian culture between 1500 and 1700.
A virtual museum accessible through the website of the Tassara Foundation shows a selection of textiles from the Zaleski Collection with archival information, photographs and in-depth analysis.
Cina / China, seconda metà del XVI secolo / second half 16th century
cm 470 x 202
Inv. 172241
MITA (Museo Internazionale del Tappeto Antico), inaugurato a Brescia ad ottobre 2023, è dedicato alla conservazione, allo studio e all’esposizione di oltre 1300 manufatti tessili dalla fine del XV all’inizio del XX secolo. Coprendo sostanzialmente la storia della produzione mondiale del tappeto, le opere provengono per la maggior parte dall’Asia, come pure dall’Europa e dal Nord Africa. La componente asiatica include prevalentemente le seguenti aree: Persia, Anatolia, Caucaso, Asia Centrale, India, Cina e Giappone. Tra le opere – alcune delle quali rarissime per epoca e provenienza – vi sono tappeti di ogni misura ed utilizzo: da quelli di grandi formati realizzati per palazzi e moschee fino a piccoli tappeti a preghiera. Il dialogo e l’interazione tra culture diverse emergono mettendo a confronto i pezzi della collezione, ciascuno dei quali risalta allo stesso tempo con le sue caratteristiche specifiche ed individuali. Le tipologie decorative rappresentate sono numerose, comprendendo giardini stilizzati, composizioni geometriche, motivi ispirati ad elementi vegetali ed ornamentazioni astratte.
Questo inestimabile patrimonio tessile è stato raccolto dall’imprenditore ed appassionato conoscitore Romain Zaleski ed è considerato la più completa collezione privata di tappeti antichi esistente al mondo. Avviata più di cinquant’anni fa, la raccolta è in ulteriore accrescimento grazie all’acquisto di nuove opere e si è resa nota attraverso mostre in varie sedi in Italia e attraverso frequenti prestiti internazionali.
Il museo è anche la sede del nuovo centro culturale di Fondazione Tassara proponendosi come uno spazio di confronto tra culture orientali e occidentali, tra tradizione e contemporaneità. Situato in un’area urbana dinamica che attraversa un processo di rigenerazione, MITA incoraggia un dialogo intergenerazionale ed interculturale cercando di coinvolgere un pubblico ampio e vario. Tra gli scopi di MITA c’è quello di promuovere una ricerca pluridisciplinare con prospettive internazionali grazie anche alla possibilità di accogliere esperti, studiosi e studenti provenienti da tutto il mondo.
Anatolia occidentale / Western Anatolia, prima metà del XVI secolo / first half 16th century
cm 223 x 233 (frammento / fragment)
Inv. 100999
All images © MITA, Fondazione Tassara