The MIG (the Italian cast iron museum) boasts a wide collection of objects used in the last centuries to light and decorate Italian and foreign cities.

This rich heritage allowed the Neri Foundation to set up and run three permanent exhibitions open to the public.

 

The MIG (the Italian cast iron museum) boasts a wide collection of objects used in the last centuries to light and decorate Italian and foreign cities.

This rich heritage allowed the Neri Foundation to set up and run three permanent exhibitions open to the public.

 

In the historic centre of Longiano (Emilia-Romagna, Italy), inside the Santa Maria delle Lacrime church, built in the 18th century, a museum was opened in the 1998, displaying some of the most interesting examples of light posts and chandeliers of the collection, together with a significant number of old postcards depicting them in the cities they came from and showing views of Italian and European cities as they appeared in the past. Local visitors and tourists can view these very impressive set up, which allows them to view types of objects that most of them would have never had the opportunity to see. 

 

The Open Air Museum, set up in 2008 in the public garden of Cesena (Emilia-Romagna, Italy), which has been restored to its original 19th century character after a recent restoration work. In the centre of the garden, a gazebo produced by Neri and eight cast iron lamp posts belonging to the Foundation make an impressive surround and create an unusual, very pleasant atmosphere for people seeking peace and quiet and relaxation.

 

In 2010 the Foundation's and company's head office was used to set up a more comprehensive museum, mainly visited by industry operators, university lecturers and students, and by younger students for educational projects, but is open to all. The museum layout allows visitors to view multiple types of vintage cast iron objects, and therefore to find out the crucial role played by some foundries, in terms of production and sales techniques. Although all of these foundries are now closed, they have left a lasting mark in our cities. A carefully planned and manually demanding project that has allowed the community to view practical yet exquisitely attractive objects. It therefore comes as no surprise to find out that these products have been collectively called "industrial art".