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Contact
Martin Ciszuk
Doctoral student at School of Textiles and Lecturer
In room: U518
E-mail: Martin.Ciszuk@hb.se
Phone: 033-4354859
Fax: 033-4354009
Signatur: MCZ
KA Almgren silk manuctory, Swedish 19th century silk weaving
Background
KA Almgren Sidenväveri was active 1833-1974. The factory in Södermalm in central Stockholm, with its furnishing and collections is now cherished by the foundation KA Almgren Sidenväveri och Museum.
Research material
The collections of KA Almgren silk manufactory contain, besides the factory itself, of looms, jacquard mechanisms, tools and raw material; together with design drawings, point paper designs, punched cards, textile samples etc. The written documentation contains French and Swedish and German manuals of weaving theory, accountancy of workers, production and economy. This is compared with materail from swedish archives and museums.
Aim
The main aim of the project is to investigate how textiles, technology, machinery and designs at KA Almgrens Sidenväveri reflect the years 1830-1975. This period holds the rise and fall of Swedish textile industry and the transition of Sweden from a class society to a welfare state.
The project is a study of the design process with a historic perspective. What conditions decided the craftsmen’s choices and what was the character of the interaction between technology, culture and market in the Almgren manufactory? My study deals with the choices made both by the craftsmen and the leaders of factory: choice of products, weaves, quality and machinery. Which were the reasons and consequences of these choices?
Theory
My knowledge in textile craft, silk weaving and textile technical analyse is a precondition for the understanding of my research material.
The interpretation of the design process is decisive for the study of materialisation, i.e. how technology and raw material are used to manifest the ideas and lifestyle among craftsmen, producers and consumers.
Assignments
Reproduction of historic textiles: http://durantextiles.com/
Teaching and courses
History of textiles and costume, Weaving theory, Weaving analyse and reconstruction
Principal supervisor
Lars G Strömberg
Co-Supervisor
Bengt Berglund, Chalmers
Title of Dissertation
KA Almgren silk manuctory, Swedish 19th century silk weaving
Subjects
Handloom weaving
Textile Science
Finished research projects
Hidden innovation in the 1800s.