Museum of Decorative Arts

Museum of Decorative Arts

The Museum of Decorative Arts is located at the northern end of the Cultural Forum Square. Established in 1868, it serves both as an educational institution and a museum. Its original collection consisted of donations from the World's Fair in 1868. The museum’s holdings gradually expanded starting in the 1870s, and it has now become one of the world’s most important museums of decorative arts.

The museum primarily showcases European decorative arts, featuring an extensive and even diverse collection spanning from the post-Classical period to the present day. The types of artifacts on display are remarkably varied, including textiles, wooden panels, gold and silverware, enamels, ceramics, clothing, porcelain, furniture, tapestries, decorative wall panels, glassware, as well as contemporary crafts and design works. These pieces span a range of artistic styles and are of great historical value. Among the many treasures in the collection are rare masterpieces such as the "Guelph Treasure" and the "Baptismal Font of Emperor Barbarossa" from Brunswick Cathedral, which represent the exceptional craftsmanship of medieval church goldsmiths. Meissen porcelain showcases the achievements of Germany’s classical porcelain industry. Tapestries, furniture, Mallorcan tin-glazed pottery, and Venetian glassware reflect the artisanal excellence of Renaissance Italy. The collection also includes garments and jewelry from various eras, illustrating the evolution of European fashion over the centuries.

Among the exquisite handicrafts in the Museum of Decorative Arts are also scientific instruments that played significant roles in history, such as equatorial sundials, sextants, and backstaffs, all of which have attracted considerable attention from visitors.

Museum of Decorative Arts (Kunstgewerbemuseum)

Must-visit reason: Germany’s oldest museum of decorative arts

Continent where the attraction is located: Europe【Europe】

Country/Region where the attraction is located: Germany[Germany]

Province/State where the attraction is located: Berlin State [Berlin]

City where the attraction is located: Berlin [Berlin]