The façade of the Neo-Renaissance palace, created by Josef Schulz between 1897 and 1899, reveals the contents right from the beginning through its flourishing decoration: allegories of artistic crafts – goldsmith’s art, embroidery, printing, the manufacture of glass, clay or metal –welcomes all visitors and is an invitation to discovering the variety of creations in all artistic fields.
The collections are divided according to materials. The “Story of the Fibre” presents textiles, tapestries and costumes. You will discover how various techniques – embroideries, appliqués, weaving, printings… - contributed to the creation of fashions and trends. In the gallery “Born in Fire”, glass, ceramic and porcelain items try to outdo each other in creativity through shapes, motifs, colors: from the elegance of Meissen’s porcelain to the geometrical purity of Cubist design, from the sophistication of glass items in the Renaissance era to the plays of light of contemporary creations.
Watches and clocks from various eras are set together in an adjoining little room, while in another hall, the skill of goldsmiths and artistic craftsmen is shown through precious metal items.
You will end your visit in the gallery devoted to graphic design, to crafts linked to books and to photography, which are fields of creation where the Czech school was particularly fruitful in the 20th century.
Don’t forget to follow the news issued by the museum, since it regularly organizes first-class temporary exhibitions.
Umělecko-průmyslové muzeum – Museum of Decorative Arts
17. listopadu 2 (November 17th street, 2)
Prague 1 – Old Town
www.upm.cz
How to get there:
Subway Green line A, station “Staroměstská”;
Tram 17, 18, stop “Staroměstská”
Opening hours: Tuesdays from 10am to 8pm, Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm.
The Museum of Decorative Arts also owns the Gallery Josef Sudek, where you can admire the work of this artist (photography cycles, comparative exhibitions...). Currently open from 11am to 7pm. Address: Úvoz 24, Prague 1, Malá Strana
