Museums of Basketmaking or
Chairseating interest
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Museums in the UK/Elsewhereclick map, web or email for more info
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England 
Bedfordshire top
Milton Keynes Museum
McConnell Drive
Wolverton
Milton Keynes
MK12 5EL
01908 316222
Wide collection of items agriculture, industrial rural domestic life from 1800 to present day. 

April - Oct
Wed - Sun 11 - 4.30
Nov - April every weekend
11 - 4.30
 Charge
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web
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Stockwood Park Museum
Farley Hill
Luton
LU1 4BH
(01582) 738714
Relevant collections: late 18th century, early to mid 20th century, traditional basketry from Bedfordshire region 

Closed for redevelopment 28 October 2007 until July 2008 Free
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Wardown Park Museum
Old Bedford Road
Luton
LU2 7HA
(01582) 546722
Straw work 

Tues - Sat 10-5
Sun 1-5
Closed 25 & 26 Dec, 1 Jan
 Free
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web
email
 
Berkshire top
Frogmore House
Windsor
SL4 1NJ
0207 766 7305
Victorian cane furniture 

Ring for opening times 
map
web
 
Museum of English Rural Life
Redlands Road
Reading
RG1 5EX
(0118) 378 8660
Largest country collection of baskets and displays (ring in advance for entry into stored collection). 

Tues - Sat 10-1, 2-4.30 Free
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Buckinghamshire top
Pitstone Green Museum
Pitstone Green Farm
Vicarage Road
Pitstone
LU7 9EY
(01582) 605464
Local fruit and domestic baskets, including 5' long x 3' wide Mentmore flower baskets. Osier bed (memory Charlie Dixon). Straw plaiting samples and information 

May - Sept,
2nd Sun of the month 11-5
Easter Mon & B H Mon
11-5
 Charge
map
web
email
 
Wycombe Museum
Priory Avenue
High Wycombe
HP13 6PX
01494 421896
Photographs and history, tools, materials. Cane and rush seating
Social History makers and chairs.
Small straw plait/dolly and hat collection 

Mon - Sat 10 - 5 Sun 2 - 5 Closed BH Free
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Cambridgeshire top
Cambridge Folk Museum
2/3 Castle Street
Cambridge
CB3 0AQ
(01223) 355159
Baskets, tools, canework, eel grigs, straw plaits 

Apr-Sept, Mon-Sat 10.30-5 Sun 2-5
Oct-Mar Tues-Sat 10.30-5 Sun 2-5
 
map
web
 
Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey
Ely Road
Waterbeach
CB5 9PQ
(01223) 860988
Small collection baskets, shop and basketmaker's shop. Occasional demonstrations and courses, Sandra Barker 

April - Oct
daily 12 - 5
 
map
web
 
Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery
Priestgate
Peterborough
PE1 1LF
01733 343329
Straw work, baskets and contemporary 

Tues - Fri 12 - 5
Sat 10 - 5 Sun check times for school holidays and BH
 
map
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Cumbria top
Abbot Hall Art Gallery & Museum

Kendal
Cumbria
LA9 5AL
(01539) 722464
Swill baskets, rush chairs, basketmaking demonstrations 

18 Jan - 23 Dec, Mon - Sat
10.30 - 5.00
(Jan - Mar & Nov - Dec
10.30 - 4)
Ring to check.
 
map
web
 
Dorset top
Romano-British Farmstead
Upton Country Park
Poole
(01202) 633514
Reconstruction Britain's first farm building. Woven structures 

Ring for opening times 
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Scaplen's Court Museum
High Street
Poole
BH15 1DA
(01202) 262600/633558
Fishing industry and a few domestic items 

August Mon - Sat 10 - 5
Sun 12 - 5
Sept - July public access thro' activity programme
 Free
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Waterfront Museum
4 High Street
Poole
BH15 1BW
(01202) 262600
 

April - Oct Mon - Sat 10 - 5, Sun 12 - 5, Nov - March Mon - Sat 10 - 3 Sun 12 - 3 Free
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East Sussex top
East Preston Manor
Preston Park
Brighton
BN1 6SD
(01273) 292770
Caned seats & straw-work boxes. 

April - Sept
Tues - Sat 11 - 4.30
Sun 2 - 5
 
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Essex top
Epping Forest District Museum
39/41 Sun Street
Waltham Abbey
EN9 1EL
(01992) 716882
Small collection of baskets. Also small ethnographic collection to view by appointment. 

Fri & Mon 2 - 5
Tues 12 - 5
Sat: 10 - 5
Sun: 2 - 5 (May - Sept)
 Free
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email
 
Saffron Walden Museum
Museum Street
Saffron Walden
CB10 1JL
(01799) 510333
Ethnography collections 

March - Oct
Mon - Sat 10 - 5
Sun + BH 2 - 5
Nov - Feb
Mon - Sat 10 - 4.30
Sun 2 - 4.30
Closed 24, 25 Dec
 Charge
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Gloucestershire top
Gloucester Folk Museum
99 -103 Westgate Street
Gloucester
GL1 2PG
(01452) 396467
River fishing baskets, occasional demonstrations. 

Tues - Sat 10 - 5 All year Charge
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Hampshire top
Chilcombe House
Chilcombe Lane
Winchester
SO23 8RD
(01962) 846304
Straw bonnets.
Miniature containers in straw. Woven bustle 

8.30-5 Weekdays 
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Whitchurch Silk Mill
29 Winchester Street
Whitchurch
RG28 7AL
(01256) 892065
Woven containers 

Tues - Sun +BH Mon
10.30 - 5
last admissions 4.30
(not 24 Dec - 2 Jan)
 Charge
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Kent top
Museum of Kent Life
Cobtree, Lock Lane
Sandling
Maidstone
ME14 3AU
(01622) 763936
Fruit gathering baskets, bee skeps and oak spale baskets 

Mid-Feb - early Nov
Daily 10 - 5.00
 Charge
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Powell Cotton Collection

Quex Park
Birchington
CT7 0BH
(01842) 842168
African collection.
Baskets and textiles 

16 Mar - 30 Oct 08
Sun - Thurs 11-5,
Nov - Mar Sun only 1-3.30
 Charge
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Kingston upon Hull top
Maritime Museum
Queen Victoria Square
Hull
HU1 3DX
(01482) 613902
Fishing baskets 

Mon - Sat 10 - 5
Sun 1. 30 - 4.30
 Free
map
web
 
Lincoln top
Church Farm Museum
Church Road South
Skegness
PE25 2ET
(01754) 766658
Open air museum. Reconstruction building, regular demonstrations by blind basketmaker, Cyril Wakefield. 

April - Oct
daily 10.30 - 5.30
 Charge
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Lincolnshire top
Museum of Lincolnshire Life
The Old Barracks
Burton Road
Lincoln
LN1 3LY
(01522) 528448
Basket-making, display and whissender willow bed. Collection of willow baskets and small quantity of cane, rush and straw work. 

May - Sept daily 10 - 5.30
Oct - April Mon - Sat 10 - 5.30 Sun 2 - 5.30
Closed Good Fri, 24-27 Dec, Jan 1
 Charge
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web
 
London top
Geffrye Museum
Kingsland Road
E2 8EA
(020) 7739 9893
Small collection cane/rush chairs. 

Tues - Sat 10 - 5
Sun & BH Mon 12 - 5
 Free
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Horniman Museum
London Road
Forest Hill
SE23 3PQ
(020) 8699 1872
North American baskets.
Asian baskets. 

daily 10.30 - 5.30 Free
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Museum of London
London Wall
EC2Y 5HN
(020) 7600 3699
Straw work embroideries. Princess Margaret's 21st Birthday gown (Christian Dior) also Jenny Lind's dress 

Mon - Sat 10 - 5.50
Sun 12 - 5.50
 Free
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Petrie Museum of Egyptian
Archaeology
University College London
Malet Place
WC1E 6BT
(020) 7679 2884
Thrilling collection of Egyptian baskets 

Tues - Fri 1 - 5
Sat 10 - 1
Closed Easter and Christmas
 Free
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The British Museum
Great Russell Street
WC1B 3DG
(020) 7323 8000
Good basketry collection on view in N.American (Chase Manhattan) Gallery 

Sat - Wed 10 - 5.30
Thurs, Fri 10 - 8.30
Check BH
Ring for appointment to view objects not on display.
 Free
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Victoria & Albert Museum
Cromwell Road
South Kensington
SW7 2RL
(0207) 942 2000
Large collection straw embroideries (in different galleries) 

Daily 10 - 5.45
Wed 10 - 10
 Free
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William Morris Gallery
Lloyd Park
Forest Road
E17 4PP
(020) 8527 3782
Rush-seated 'Sussex' and other chairs by Morris and Co (1860s), also rush chairs by Ernest Gimson
(1890s /1900s) 

Wednesday- Sunday, 10am-5pm Group and school bookings welcome Tuesdays, 10am-5pm Free
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Norfolk top
Bridewell Museum
Bridewell Alley
Norwich
NR2 1AQ
(01603) 629127
Very few items includes price list, G S Loveday & Co, Norwich Rush Basket Manufacturing (1900 - 1910). Cane seating tools. 

Feb-Oct Mon-Sat 10-5 Free
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Elizabethan House Museum
4 South Quay
Great Yarmouth
NR30 2QH
(01493) 855746
Baskets, photos, paintings relating fishing industry. 'crans and swills', wickerwork model for proposed unsinkable lifeboat (19th century) 

1 April - 31 October
Mon - Fri 10 - 5
Sat & Sun 1.15 - 5
 Charge
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Gressenhall Farm & Workhouse

Gressenhall
Dereham
NR20 4DR
(01362) 860563
Good basket collection plus tools and reconstructed basket makers workshop. Stored collection also available to view by appointment. 

Open Easter - Oct.
Phone for days and times open
 Charge
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Straw Museum/Colby Conifer Cottage
Buck Brigg
Hanworth
NR11 7HH
01263 761615
Unique centre Strawwork, Dollies, Marquetry, Lace worldwide 

Easter-end Oct. Wed & Sat 11.00 - 4.00
Free (donations if wished)
 
map
web
 
Time and Tide Museum of Gt Yarmouth Life
Victorian Herring Curing Works
Blackfriars Rd
Great Yarmouth
NR30 3BX
01493 743930
Fishing Industry baskets & small area devoted to Stanley Bird, Yarmouth Basketmaker 

Summer 10-5 Winter 10-4 (1 Nov-30 Mar) Sat/Sun 12-4
closed 20-26 Dec, 1 Jan
 Charge
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Oxfordshire top
Banbury Museum
Spiceball Park Road
Banbury
OX16 2PQ
(01295) 259855
Wooden splint bottle baskets. Basket for Banbury cakes. Canalside Museum 

April - Sept
Mon - Sat 10 - 5
Oct - Mar
Tues - Sat 10 - 4.30
 
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Cogges Manor Farm Museum
Church Lane
Cogges
Witney
OX8 6LA
(01993) 722602
Small collection basketry related crafts. 

April - Oct
Tues - Fri & B H Mon
10.30 - 5.30
Sat & Sun 12 - 5.30
 Charge
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Pitt Rivers Museum
South Parks Road,
Oxford
OX1 3PP
(01865) 270927
Extensive collection of baskets and basketwork from all parts of the world. Torches may be borrowed 

Mon 12-4.30, Tues-Sun 10-4.30
Please check Christmas and Easter opening with the museum
 Free
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Somerset top
Johns Museum of Interesting Junk
Hambridge
(up road from Cane Workshop)
(between Ilminster and Langport)
Vast collection of chairs, basketwork and woven items 

Open by appointment,
call John Excell
 
map
 
Somerset Rural Life Museum
Abbey Farm
Chilkwell Street
Glastonbury
BA6 8DB
Tel (01458) 831197
Rural industries gallery; demonstrations and workshops. Cane and rush work Lorraine Houlden. Basketmaking Roy Youdale. 

April - Oct: Tues - Fri 10 - 5
Sat - Sun 2 - 6
Nov - March Tues - Sat 10 - 3
Also BH
 Charge
map
web
 
The American Museum in Britain
Claverton Manor
Bath
BA2 7BD
01225 469160
Chairs (lots of rush examples) Baskets (mostly North American Indian) 

Mar - Oct 2-5
Ring for opening times.
 Charge
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Suffolk top
Museum of East Anglian Life
Stowmarket
IP14 1DL
(01449) 612229
Complete basketmakers workshop 

April - Oct
Mon - Sat 10 - 5
Sunday 11 - 5
Nov - Mar
partial opening of displays Mon - Fri 10 - 3
 Charge
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Museum of Knots and Sailors Ropework
501 Wherstead Rd
Ipswich
IP2 8LL
01473 690090
Collection of Knots and Netting, Rope Tools old and new. Fenders. Ref Library
Des and Liz Pawson 

Ring for opening times Free
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The Ipswich Museum
High St
Ipswich
IP1 4QH
01473 433550
Cane Furniture, 26 items of Basketry and exhibits of interest 

Tues-Sat 10-4.45 
map
web
email
 
Surrey top
Museum of Plants + Man (Economic Botany)
Royal Botanic Gardens
Kew
Richmond
0208 332 5706
A wide selection of baskets in the reserve collection they are catalogued under their plant family. 

Open daily
Summer 9.30 - 5.30
Winter 9.30 - 3.45
 
map
web
 
Rural Life Centre
Reeds Road
Tilford
Farnham
GU10 2DL
(01252) 795571
Small collection of baskets and chairseating in all materials 

April - Oct
Wed - Sun and BH
11 - 6
Winter Wed and Sun 11 - 4
 Charge
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Warwickshire top
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
The Shakespeare Centre
Henley Street
Stratford upon Avon
CV37 6QW
(01789) 204016
Variety of chairs rush/cane/lipwork.
Domestic baskets and
household items in willow, raffia and straw. 

Summer: 10-5 daily. Winter 10-4.30 daily Charge
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WestYorkshire top
Bankfield Museum
Akroyd Park
Boothtown Road
Halifax
HX3 6HG
(01422) 354823
World-wide basketry from ancient Peruvian spindle basket to large Kowyak Waga hill tribe carrying basket. Also work by David Drew, Lois Walpole and Dail Behennah. 

Tues - Sat & BH Mon 10 - 5
Sun 2 - 5
Reserve collection by appointment. Contact Art Galleries Officer
 Free
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Tolson Memorial Museum
Ravensknowle Park
Wakefield Road
Huddersfield
HD5 8DJ
(01484) 223830
Local history + textiles, skips + woven materials 

Mon - Fri 11 - 5
Sat & Sun 12 - 5
 Free
map
web
 
Wiltshire top
Wilton House
Wilton
Salisbury
SP2 0BJ
(01722) 746720
Caned carriage sides 

Apr-Oct 10.30 - 5.30 daily
last admissions 4.30
 Charge
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Wirral top
Lady Lever Art Gallery
Port Sunlight Village
Bebington
CH62 5EQ
(0151) 478 4136
Straw work 

Mon - Sat 10 - 5
Sunday 12 - 5
 Free
map
web
 
Worcestershire top
Bewdley Museum
The Shambles
Load Street
Bewdley
DY12 2EA
(01299) 403573
Basketmaking displays 

April - Oct
Ring for opening times
 Charge
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York top
York Castle Museum
Castle Area
The Eye of York
YO1 9RY
(01904) 653611
Bee skeps and chairseating - Reserve collection baskets. Various kinds of luggage and straw work 

Open 9.30 - 5
Opens at 10 on Fridays in school holidays
Closed 25&26 Dec & Jan 1
 Charge
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IOM 
Isle of Man top
Manx Museum
Manx National Heritage
Douglas
IM1 3LY
(01624) 648000
Manx life. Limited collection, creels and straw work. 

Mon - Sat 10 - 5
Open all year
 Free
map
web
email
 
Scotland 
Edinburgh top
Royal Museum of Scotland
Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1JF
(0131) 2257534
Small collection of woven items in Early people Gallery and St. Kilda's 1800 area. 

Mon-Sat 10-5 (Tues until 8pm), Sun 12-5, see website for holiday times Free
map
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email
 
Fife top
Scottish Fisheries Museum
St Ayles
Harbourhead
Anstruther
KY10 3AB
(01333) 310628
Orkney chairs. Lots of baskets related to fishing industry. 

Apr - Sept
weekdays 10 - 5.30, Sun 11 - 5
Oct - Mar weekdays
10 - 4.30, Sun 12 - 4.30
 Charge
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email
 
Wales 
Cardiff top
Museum of Welsh Life
St Fagans
Cardiff
CF5 6XB
(02920) 573500
Variety of woven structures and items 

daily 10 - 5 Free
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Channel Islands 
Guernsey top
Guernsey Folk Museum
Saumarez Park
Castel
CY5 7UJ
(01481) 255384
Traditional domestic + agricultural basketry 

end of Mar - end Oct
daily 10 - 5
 Charge
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Museums outside the UKclick map, web or email for more info
Austria top
Austrian Museum of Applied Arts (MAK)
Stubenring 5
A-1010 Wien
A-1010
(+43-1) 711 36-0
Two galleries Thonet and various caned chairs from many periods 

Tue (MAK NITE?) from 10.00 am to midnight, Wed-Sun 10-6, full info on website Charge
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Imperial Furniture Collection (Hofmobiliendepot)
Andreasgasse 7
A-1070 Wien
A-1070
+43-1-524 33 57
Caned chairs in Kaisers Furniture Collection 

Tuesday-Sunday 10am-6pm Charge
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Belgium top
De Wissen Maas-center
Maas Park Wegenord V2W
3650 Dilsen - Stokken
3650
(01) 1755016
Complete record of basketmaking from the area 

Ring for times 
map
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Canada top
Royal British Columbia Museum
675 Belleville Street
Victoria
B.C.
V8W 9W2
+1 250 356 7226
National basket collection, cordage and textiles 

See website for times 
map
web
email
 
Finland top
National Museum of Finland
Mannerhemintie 34
Helsinki
+358 94050 9552
Museum of Finnish LIfe, Prehistoric - Present times
Collection of Birch Bark/Pine Root containers/horns, fish traps, nets 

Tues-Wed 11-20.00 Thurs-Sun 11-18.00 Closed Mon 
map
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France top
Mus?e d'Orsay
62, rue de Lille
75343 Paris
75343
+33 (0)1 40 49 48 14
Permanent display of cane chairs on two floors of rear stairwells 

Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun 9.30-6, Thurs 9.30-9.45pm, closed Mons, Jan 1, May 1, Dec 25 Charge
map
web
 
Mus?e de l'Homme
Palais de Chaillot
17 Place du Trocad?ro
75116 Paris
75116
(+33) 01 44 05 72 72
Worldwide ethnographic Coll. including Mali & Ethiopian baskets 

Weekdays 9.45-5.15, weekends 10-6.30, closed Tues, Bank Hols 
map
web
 
Mus?e de la Vannerie
La Glaneuse
Avenue Philippe de Girard
84160 Cadenet
84160
(+33) 24 90 68 24 44
Big display of tools and baskets old and new (600+ objects) 

Apr-Oct 10-12, 2.30-6.30, closed Tue, Wed AM, Sun AM 
map
web
 
Germany top
Deutsches Korbmuseum
Bismarck Strasse
96247 Michelau i.OFr
96247
09571 / 835 48
Extensive display of baskets and demonstrations 

April - Oct (not Mon)
9 -12, 1 - 4.30
 Charge
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Museum der Stadt Boppard
Burgstra?e
Electors Castle of Treves
D-56154 Boppard
D-56154
+49 (0) 6742-103-69
Michael Thonet Birthplace
Exhibition of Caned Bentwood chairs. Examples 1845-1900 

Apr-Oct: Tues-Sun 10-12, 2-5 
map
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Pinakothek der Moderne
Kunstareal M?nchen
Barer Stra?e 40
D-80333 M?nchen
80333
(+49) 089 23805-360
Thonet Chairs in basement 

Daily except Mon 10-5. Thurs, Fri 10-8. Closed Mons, Shrove Tues, 1st May, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve. See website for details Charge
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Vitra Design Museum
Charles-Eames-Str. 1
D -79576 Weil am Rhein
D -79576
+49 (0)7621 702 3200
Good display of chairs 

Tues-Sun, holidays: 11-6
Closed Mon, December 24/25/31
 Charge
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Italy top
Centro Ethnografico della Civilt? Palustre
Centro Ethnografico della Civilt? Palustre
Larco tre Glunchi
Castelia Postalle 31
Villanova di Bagnacavallo
(+39) 0545-491491
Fantastic rushwork center
Contact: Maria Rosa Bagnari 

Ring for times 
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Netherlands top
Nationaal Vlechtmuseum
Mandehof 7
8391 BG Noordwolde
8391 BG
(+34) 0561-431885
National Wickerwork Museum, Basketmaking History tours, exhibitions, courses, chairs, hats 

Tues-Sat 11-5. Sun 1-5. closed Easter Sun, Whit Sun, 25 Dec, 1 Jan Charge
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Tapijt Museum
Klaas Benninkstraat 2a
8281 ZX Genemuiden
8281 ZX
038 3855923
History of rush carpets 

April - mid October
Sat 1.30 - 4-.30
July - Aug Tues / Thurs / Sat
 
map
web
 
Spain top
Museo do Pobo Galego
San Domingos de Bonaval
15703 Santiago de Compostela
15703
(+34) 981-583620
A lovely folk museum with a collection of baskets and old photos of basketmakers 

Tues-Sat 10-2, 4-8. Sun/festivals 11-2. Closed Mondays and 25 Dec-1 Jan 
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Switzerland top
Frei?mter Strohmuseum (Straw Museum)
Bankweg 3
5610 Wohlen
5610
(056) 6226026
Fascinating collection of straw ornaments and hats 

Ring for times Charge
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Basket Museum, Korbflechterin
Neufeldstrasse 6
CH-3604 Thun
CH-3604
+41 33 336 3268
Storeroom in Workshop converted to museum. Wide variety of baskets. Shop/Workshop/Courses 

Call 
map
 
USA top
American Museum of Straw Art
2324 Snowden Avenue
Long Beach
90815
(+1) 562 431 3540
Museum opened in 1984 The World's foremost collection of Cultural and Folk Arts in Straw 

 
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