The brick building was erected by the cigar manufacturer Reinhard Keysers, who had moved his company from Kleve to Eitorf, around 1900 and is an important testimony to Eitorf's industrial history.
In the beginning Keysers employed 50 women and girls. The business flourished. After the turn of the century, there were 120 female workers, but only three male workers. Women were the cheaper labour and more skilled than men at wrapping tobacco in leaves. The First World War and the difficult post-war period brought production to a standstill. When the company boss died, his son Karl cranked up production again, but could not withstand the competitive pressure of the large companies and had to close the Keysers factory in the 1950s.
Today, the building houses the INCONTRO gallery, Incontra Moda and the Giovanni Vetere studio, as well as an adjacent sculpture garden.
In the beginning Keysers employed 50 women and girls. The business flourished. After the turn of the century, there were 120 female workers, but only three male workers. Women were the cheaper labour and more skilled than men at wrapping tobacco in leaves. The First World War and the difficult post-war period brought production to a standstill. When the company boss died, his son Karl cranked up production again, but could not withstand the competitive pressure of the large companies and had to close the Keysers factory in the 1950s.
Today, the building houses the INCONTRO gallery, Incontra Moda and the Giovanni Vetere studio, as well as an adjacent sculpture garden.
