Practical beauty. Handbags, purses, totes and belt bags from the collections of the Estonian National Museum
The repository of the Estonian National Museum, in which hundreds or even thousands of thematically linked pieces can be showcased, now presents from its extensive collections a range of carefully preserved items that visitors rarely get to see.From 24 February 2022 you have the chance to admire 1500 historical accessories: practical bags, from totes to purses and more, made in Estonia and by other Finno-Ugric peoples. Among the oldest items in the exhibition are richly adorned belt bags and tobacco pouches that were worn as part of national costumes. But the exhibition also shines the spotlight on more everyday objects, like plastic bags from the Soviet era, and charts the evolution of handbag fashion in the second half of the 20th century.
The exhibition celebrates the aesthetic taste of our forebears and has something for everyone – but especially those interested in folk culture, fashion and design.
Access via Door A.
Tickets: €7, concessions €5, family pass €14 (free admission with tickets to the ‘Encounters’ exhibition).
The exhibition will be open in the museum’s repository until 24 February 2024.
