1931

Show Towel

Zernez, 1831

On special occasions the everyday hand towel hanging next to the hand basin in the parlour was concealed with a beautiful «show towel». Our exhibit is a characteristic example, decorated with a cross-stitch design, which is considered typical of Graubünden.

It belongs to the collection of Samedan antiquarian Valentin Sutter comprising over 400 textiles, which the Museum was able to acquire in 1931. He had collected embroideries and weavings spanning four centuries, mostly from the Lower Engadine and the Val Müstair. The regional selection he had made in the process has shaped the way in which embroidery from Graubünden is viewed to the present day.