Tuesday, March 19, 2024

The main topic of the paintings found in this room refers to traditional costumes from Chios. The collection covers a considerable period of time, i.e. between the 16th and the 20th century. Visitors can see different variations of the same costumes, depending on the location (villages and groups of villages, namely Kampohora, or the villages of the plane of Chios, and Voreiohora, or the villages in the North of Chios) and on the time frame, in other words across the centuries.

 
Some of the oldest paintings in this collection were created by explorers who visited the island of Chios. Our newest paintings (20th century) were drawn based on the descriptions given by the locals. These data were compiled by Philip Argenti and were used to produce these paintings.

In the room, there are three cases which hold three porcelain models (figures dressed in local costumes that were already represented in paintings). These models, made in London by D. Court, were ordered in by Philip Argenti. When the models arrived on the island of Chios, Argenti ordered that their moulds be destroyed to ensure the models will remain unique.