Beginning in the sixteenth century, wealthy collectors sometimes gathered and arranged an array of art pieces or objects from the natural world into displays known as a “cabinet of curiosities.” Also called wonder rooms, these eclectic collections laid the groundwork for the modern museum and the desire to preserve and interpret human experience.
A pair of knitted lace socks in an Austrian folk life museum's collection were Mimi Seyferth's inspiration for these dramatic lace stockings. Photo by Matt Graves
Museums today, especially museums with textile collections, carry on that desire, preserving histories often left out of official records, such as women’s labor, domestic economies, and a cultural knowledge carried in thread rather than text. I am in love with all textile collections, whether they are in grand museums or in tucked-away corners of the world. I am also grateful for the photographs, insights, and inspiration the guardians of these collections share as we create each issue of the magazine.
Try your hand at rug hooking with Judith Copeland’s mat inspired by Colonial Revival decor. Photo by Matt Graves
PieceWork has assembled its own cabinet of wonders for this special issue honoring museums. Our wonders include knitted ganseys from England’s Norfolk coast, hooked rugs from a Georgian mansion in Maine, and folk costumes from Finland and Austria—alongside friendship quilts, Algerian goldwork, Amish show towels, and Napoleonic lace. It is a small cabinet, perhaps, but one that holds a world of stories. Join us in this celebration of museums, the joy they bring, and the knowledge they share.
Enjoy the wonder,
Karen
Collect your copy of the Fall 2026 issue of PieceWork today!