The exhibition is housed in the beautifully restored old Katoen Natie warehouses next to the company’s international headquarters; today’s technology ensures the best climatic conditions to preserve the valuable textiles.
Each of the five exhibition halls was carefully designed and focuses on different aspects of Egyptian history. One holds the world’s largest collection of Roman tunics. Interactive displays invite visitors to learn more about Egypt and the history of textiles.
“In the end, the building will remain the headquarters of a company and not a real museum,” explains Fernand Huts, Katoen Natie’s CEO. “But there’s a link with our company history, referring to cotton handling in the port of Antwerp when we started in 1854.”
The basis for the unique combination of a company employing more than 9,000 workers in 28 countries with the intimate and cross-cultural aspect of ancient textiles dates back some time. “My wife and I are very interested in history, anthropology, culture and sociology,” says Fernand. “We attended classes about antiques and were struck by the enthusiasm of Professor Antoine De Moor with regard to ancient textiles. He had been collecting textiles since the early 1950s, and it was great teaming up with such an expert – studying the history, visiting museums and gradually building our collection.”
The couple set up a team of experts dealing with ancient textiles. Today six people take on the scientific care of these precious items. “Professor De Moor decided to transfer his collection to our headquarters,” explains Karine, the vice-president of Katoen Natie. “He became the scientific head of the combined collection. His expertise in certifying the authenticity of art pieces is very valuable; he is the driving force behind the collection.”
Every two years since 2005, Katoen Natie has hosted an international symposium on ancient textiles, gathering professionals from leading museums, such as the Louvre and New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, and from university research labs in Antwerp. The company provides facilities and logistics and financed the publication of a book summarising research results.
Although the textile exhibition, with some 600 objects in five rooms, focuses on ancient Egyptian history, the Huts’ first acquisitions date from a more recent past. “The first pieces we bought are not in the collection – six 18th-century rugs from Anatolia,” he remembers. “But we judged it more interesting and challenging, from a historical point of view, to concentrate on objects from the pharaoh era, Hellenistic, Roman and Islamic textiles.”
Running a port warehouse and distribution business might seem worlds away from such an endeavour. “We’re happy that Katoen Natie has a unique and strong culture and a skilled staff to rely on,” notes Fernand. “When we travel abroad we take time to visit textile collections. It’s an ongoing exchange of ideas and cultures, broadening our view.”
Van Aerdtstraat 33, Antwerp
Reservation required to visit the
collection, which includes a guided tour
www.headquarters-katoennatie.com
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