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Museum of wallpaper in Rixheim dans le Haut-Rhin

Musée
Musée du papier et de l'imprimerie

Museum of wallpaper in Rixheim

    28 Rue Zuber
    68170 Rixheim
Musée du papier peint à Rixheim intérieur du musée
Musée du papier peint à Rixheim
Musée du papier peint à Rixheim
Musée du papier peint à Rixheim
Musée du papier peint à Rixheim
Musée du papier peint à Rixheim
Musée du papier peint à Rixheim
Musée du papier peint à Rixheim
Musée du papier peint à Rixheim
Musée du papier peint à Rixheim
Crédit photo : Ji-Elle - Sous licence Creative Commons

Timeline

Temps modernes
Révolution/Empire
XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
1700
1800
1900
2000
1735
Construction of the command office
1797
Installation of the factory
1802
Zuber & Cie Foundation
1946
Historical Monument
1961-1962
Exhibition at the White House
23 septembre 1982
Official establishment of the museum
24 septembre 1983
Open to the public
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Key figures

Jean-Pierre Seguin - Director of the Print Cabinet (BnF) Initiator of the museum in 1969.
Pierre Jaquet - CEO of the Zuber factory Co-founder of the museum with Seguin.
Jean Gaspard Bagnato - Commanderial Architect Designed the building in the 18th century.

Origin and history

The Rixheim wallpaper museum was established in 1797 by the Hartmann Risler & Cie, which became Zuber & Cie in 1802. It occupies the right wing of the former Teutonic Knights Command Office (classified in 1946), shared with the still active factory and city hall. This historic site, built from 1735 by Jean Gaspard Bagnato, symbolizes the link between architectural heritage and craftsmanship.

The museum's idea emerged in 1969 during a meeting between Jean-Pierre Seguin, director of the printing firm of the National Library, and Pierre Jaquet, CEO of Zuber. Inaugurated in 1983, it quickly enriched various collections, such as the Claude Frères fonds (1870-1900) originally preserved at the Mulhouse Print Museum. Its objective is threefold: to preserve the memory of the wallpaper, to make it accessible to the public through thematic exhibitions, and to support research on this medium.

The collections cover four centuries of history of the wall decoration, from dominoted 18th century papers to contemporary creations. Eight emblematic panoramas of Zuber, including the views of North America (exposed at the White House in 1961), are presented continuously. The museum also preserves historical machines, such as the impressive "12 colours" and "16 colours" presses, illustrating the technical evolution of manufacturing. These objects, associated with the archives, reveal commercial strategies and artistic trends, from neo-classicism to modern design.

Temporary exhibitions explore various themes, such as the links between wallpaper and clothing styles (Two centuries of costumes, 1990), Japanese influence (Japanisms, 2013), or contemporary innovations (Paper paintings of the future, 2017). These events are based on a fund of more than 100,000 items, including current productions and exceptional pieces, offering an aesthetic and sociological look at interior history.

The museum plays a key role in promoting an industrial heritage that is still alive, with the Zuber factory still active on the site. Its anchoring in the former command office, transformed in 1797, highlights the continuity between medieval heritage, industrial revolution and current creation. This duality between conservation and innovation makes Rixheim a unique place to understand the evolution of decorative arts in Europe.

External links

Conditions of visit

  • Conditions de visite : Ouvert toute l'année
  • Ouverture annuelle : De 10h à 12h et de 14h à 18h
  • Fermeture : Fermé le mardi du 1er novembre au 30 avril Fermetures annuelles : 1er janvier, Vendredi Saint, 1er mai et 25 décembre.
  • Tarif individuel : Plein tarif : 8,5 € - Tarif groupe : 7 € - Tarif réduit : 5 €
  • Contact organisation : 03 89 64 24 56