Norway, The Wise and Foolish Virgins, 17th century, wool, bast fiber; tapestry weave, The William Hood Dunwoody Fund

Sleeping in Style: Textiles for the Bedroom

Saturday, December 6, 2008—Sunday, May 31, 2009
Galleries 255 and 256
Free Exhibition

The need for sleep is a simple fact of being human, but the way in which we choose to perform this pleasurable activity varies enormously depending on what country you live in and the time period in which you live.

Throughout the centuries the sleeping chamber – be it a wood-paneled suite in a castle, a felt tent on the steppe, or a mud and thatch dwelling in Africa – has been adorned according to local tradition and personal preference.

This exhibition includes blankets, bed coverings and bedroom accessories from more than a dozen countries worldwide, from Mali to Sweden to Indonesia.