The museum complex was built between 1925 and 1929 to replace an earlier museum destroyed during World War II.
It is one of three museums housed within the Grassi building, alongside the Ethnography Museum and the Musical Instruments Museum.
The museum holds one of the world's most significant collections of early European porcelain.
The interior features a prominent 'Pillared Hall' often utilized for special exhibitions and acoustic performances.
The building was designed by architects Carl Riemann and Hubert Ritter.
The collection includes significant examples of Bauhaus furniture and metalwork.
The museum has been recognized for its unique blend of historical decorative arts and contemporary industrial design.
The site was severely damaged by Allied bombing in 1943, requiring extensive post-war reconstruction.
It maintains a specialized library focusing on the history of applied arts and design.
The Grassi Museum of Applied Arts is one of Europe's most significant museums for decorative arts, showcasing design from antiquity to the present day. Located within the historic Grassi complex, the institution is renowned for its Art Deco architecture and its extensive collection of ceramics, glass, textiles, and furniture. The permanent exhibition, 'From Antiquity to Historism,' displays highlights from three millennia of European art history. A second permanent exhibition, 'Asian Art. Impulse for Europe,' explores the historical influence of East Asian craftsmanship on Western design. The 'Art Nouveau to Present Day' section focuses on 20th-century movements, including Bauhaus and mid-century modern design. The building itself is a masterpiece of the New Objectivity architectural style, featuring an iconic inner courtyard. It serves as a research hub, often hosting temporary exhibitions on contemporary product design and craft techniques.
The central Art Deco courtyard with its geometric tiling and symmetric pillars.
Visit the inner courtyards even if you do not enter the exhibition halls, as they are architectural highlights.
Check the museum website for rotating temporary exhibitions, as these often feature niche local designers.
Allow extra time to explore the other two museums located within the same complex for a comprehensive cultural experience.
Do not overlook the temporary exhibition spaces, as they often contain the museum's most cutting-edge design displays.
Closed on Mondays.
