The museum’s textile collection comprises around 1,250 objects. In addition to textiles by artists, everyday items have also been collected since around 1835: velvet and silk garments worn by the bourgeoisie, lace and batiste from the early 18th century to around 1900, a number of traditional costume items from various regions of Germany dating from around 1896, as well as accessories, handicrafts, toys and small textiles, including a precious collection of silk ribbons from the 18th century.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the collection was expanded to include valuable Flemish tapestries, as well as a private collection of dolls dressed in traditional costumes and further Flemish tapestries, textiles for interiors and paraments, such as Italian silk embroidery and oriental prayer rugs from the 19th century. From 1975 onwards, works by artists from Berlin, Halle and Magdeburg, among other places, were continuously acquired.
