Museo d'Arte Orientale – Collezione Mazzocchi
Japanese art museum in Coccaglio with the Pompeo Mazzocchi collection: ukiyo-e woodblock prints, samurai armour, lacquerware and ceramics; temporarily closed.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum grew out of the collection of artworks and objects gathered by Pompeo Mazzocchi (1829–1915), a silkworm breeder from Coccaglio who made numerous journeys to Japan in search of healthy silkworm eggs, to save the Lombard silk industry from the crisis caused by pébrine. After him, his son Cesare left the entire family inheritance to the municipalities of Torbole Casaglia and Coccaglio.
From 2017 the museum was displayed in the premises of the Centro Monauni, thanks to the Fondazione Gaspare Monauni, in four rooms: the first devoted to Pompeo Mazzocchi and silkworm breeding; the second to feudal Japan, with samurai armour, swords and woodblock prints by Hiroshige; the third to daily life, with jewellery, vases, figurines and Hokusai's Manga sketchbooks (Quaderni Manga); and the fourth to the ukiyo-e woodblock prints of the Utagawa school.
The collection includes weapons, ivories, woodblock prints, lacquerware, wooden objects, jewellery, paintings, ceramics, textiles, photographs and bronzes, and also objects that belonged to Cesare Mazzocchi and his wife Eva Dea. The museum has temporarily closed the Centro Monauni venue: thanks to the Fondazione Mazzocchi, the family's historic home, where the new house museum will be located, is being renovated; in the meantime a selection of works is travelling in a touring exhibition.
Highlights
- Ukiyo-e woodblock prints by Hokusai, Hiroshige and other masters
- Hokusai's Manga sketchbooks (Quaderni Manga)
- Samurai armour and Japanese swords
- Lacquerware, ceramics, jewellery and objects of daily life
- Documents, manuscripts and correspondence of Pompeo Mazzocchi and Eva Dea
Permanent exhibition
- Collezione Mazzocchi di arte giapponese – Four rooms with ukiyo-e woodblock prints, samurai armour, lacquerware, ceramics and Hokusai's Manga sketchbooks (venue currently closed).
- Operated by
- Fondazione Mazzocchi
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3 |
Prices in force before the temporary closure: standard €5, reduced €3.
Accessibility
The museum is temporarily closed pending the new venue; for updates please see the website or social media channels.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
Extended captions suitable for children and families for five main works, and online educational materials.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Stazione di Coccaglio
From Coccaglio station, follow Via Giacomo Matteotti, Via Vittorio Veneto, Via Gaspare Monauni and finally Via Madre Teresa di Calcutta; the museum was located in the Centro Monauni.
Amenities & dining
The museum is temporarily closed pending the new venue; for updates please see the website or social media channels.
Events & venue rental
The museum is temporarily closed pending the new venue; for updates please see the website or social media channels.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (IT) |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Before the closure, audio guides for the four rooms, thematic maps, online educational materials (Edu Mazzocchi) and extended captions for children and families were available. Guided tours and workshops by reservation by e-mail. |
