ARCHIVE OF EARLIER "Special Exhibitions" 2010/2011 "VINTAGE PURSES AT THEIR BEST" Purses used to be a useful, decorative and very common accessory to the ladies' warderobe. They were artistically manufactured in various sizes and in an array of different techniques and materials: Textile embroideries (petit point), glas beads, ingenious metal mesh, leather, silver etc. The purse was meant to carry a few items, like a small mirror, some make-up and a small handkerchief, but its main purpose was to put emphasis on the robe of the wearer. Accordingly, stylish fashion dolls were sold with a fitting purse in miniature size. The Special Exhibition presented more than 300 beautiful purses in pritstine condition from around 1830 to 1930.     2009/2010 "The World of Toy Train Stations" The special exhibition presented the period from the late 1920s to the late 1950s. At that time train stations had stopped being monumental buildings, they became modern, modular, functional buildings. The leading toy manufacturers, mostly German, were Kibri, Märklin, Bub, Faller, Creglinger and Buco. All of these names were on exhibit along with 120 stations and many accessory buildings such as newspaper and food stands, servicemen, technical installations and many travelers, adding a lot of charm. This exhibition presented an array of toy train stations and accessories in perfect and original condition.     2008/2009 "Noah's Ark" The legend of Noah's Ark was illustrated with more than 20 beautiful and different toy arks from 1870 to the present day, many with dozens of handcarved and handpainted wooden animals. We tried to construct parallels between our contemporary world and that which Noah lived in which is described as "corrupt and filled with violence" (Genesis 6). This led to reflections on the role of mankind in determining the future of living things on our polluted planet.     2007/2008 "Barbie Fashion Queen" The museum presented a private collection of more than 250 Barbie Dolls, including her family, her friends, her houses, animals etc. It was an amazing exhibit with emphasis on the glorious sixties and seventies when Barbie was dressed in these exquisitely tailored costumes of pristine quality. Many visitors had to change their opinion about Barbies, not having ever seen them with such amazing outfits of high quality, so much different and superior from what is on sale today.     2006/2007 "The crazy fifties-----living in the doll house" In the 50s, after many years of war, misery and privation, Europe saw new hope and wanted to free itself from the old style of living in stone houses with dark rooms, massive furniture and heavy carpets. It was the start of a new architecture, of new interiors where bright colours were used, new shapes became fashionable, such as triangular or "kidney"-shaped tables, chairs and furniture with oblique legs, tulip-shaped lamps, asymmetrical forms, curtains and wallpapers with exotic patterns. There was of course a very strong influence from the USA swapping over Europe, there were Nylon stockings, Coca Cola, washing machines, refrigerators and the first television sets. Our Special Exhibit presented 30 different dollhouses and stores, collected and owned by two private collectors.      2005/2006 "Red Cross Toys" The foundation of the Red Cross in 1863 led to the production of toys, decorated with the emblem of the Red Cross. The exhibition displayed early carriages from the 1880s, early car ambulances from 1910 and fully equipped train ambulances in gauge 0 and 1. There were 400 different car ambulances from 1910-1980, also models showing modern rescue by aircraft and helicopter.     2004/2005  "MECCANO Constructions" Models of all sizes, some operated electrically, were shown along with mint and complete construction boxes from the early days of Meccano. All models were owned and constructed by members of the AMS-Club of Switzerland  www.amsclub.ch.       2003/2004 "Swiss Toy Trains" Many different manufacturers produced toy trains according to Swiss models, the most famous being the "Gotthard Crocodile" made by Märklin in various gauges. The exhibition presented more than 20 different manufacturers, many well known like Trix, Buco and Hag, others little known like Wesa, Resal, Erno, Junior, Jibby and others. You could admire complete sets of trains in gauge Z, N, HO, 0 and 1, plus many accessories  and a collection of Kibri train stations.