Museo dei Pels

About the museum

The Museo dei Pels (“pels” means hair in the dialect of Elva) opened in 2006 and is part of the Ecomuseo dell’Alta Valle Maira. It tells the story of one of the valley’s most unusual trades, that of the hair collectors: in winter the men of Elva went down to the plains of Piedmont, Lombardy and Veneto, and to France and Spain, to collect hair, often bought for a few lire or exchanged for a piece of cloth.

In Elva the hair was washed, combed and sorted by thickness, length and colour by the women, who bound it into plaits, the “beschas”, which were then sold to wholesalers and by them to wig makers in Europe and America. The trade flourished particularly between the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. The route unfolds across three rooms: the first with the tools of the trade, the second with wigs, photographs and paper documents, and the third a teaching room with a screening of the documentary “La strada dei capelli” by Fredo Valla. Scarves, lace and fabrics used for barter are also on display.

Highlights

• Tools of the “pelassiers” for working hair
• Wigs, photographs and period documents
• Documentary film “La strada dei capelli” by Fredo Valla
• Fabrics, lace and scarves used for barter

Founded

2006

Operated by

Ecomuseo dell'Alta Valle Maira

Visitors per year

approx. 2,800

Admission & discounts

Standard ticket €2, reduced €1.50.

Accessibility

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Kids & families

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Getting there & parking

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Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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