Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The idea of a museum dedicated to modern decorative arts in Nancy emerged in 1894, before the city officially established a Decorative Art Museum in December 1900. Originally located at the Town Hall, it gathers works from local factories. This project aims to enhance the Lorrain decorative art, which is now growing thanks to the Art Nouveau movement.

In 1935, Eugène Corbin, patron and passionate collector of the École de Nancy, left his collection of more than 750 pieces to the city. These works, exposed to the Poirel galleries, greatly enrich the existing collections. After World War II, the visibility of the collections became difficult, forcing the city to acquire in 1952 the property of Eugene Corbin to permanently install the museum.

The museum opened in 1964, under the impetus of the conservative Françoise-Thérèse Charpentier. It chooses to reconstruct the end-of-century atmosphere by developing thematic rooms (living room, office, bedroom), rather than simply a chronological exhibition. The house and its garden house major works, such as furniture by Louis Majorelle, glassware by Émile Gallé, or the Masson dining room, designed by Eugène Vallin in 1904.

The museum is distinguished by its specialization in the art nouveau nancéien, an artistic movement marked by the unity of the arts and technical innovation. The collections combine unique pieces (such as the Dawn and Twilight of Gallé) and objects produced in series, illustrating the philosophy of art for all. The garden also exhibits emblematic elements, such as an oak door from Eugene Vallin (1897) or an aquarium pavilion attributed to Lucien Weissenburger.

Labeled Musée de France, the site now preserves more than 400 Gallé glassware, ceramics, and marked furniture, reflecting the diversity of techniques mastered by local artists. The museum highlights collaborations between artisans, such as Victor Prouvé and Louis Majorelle for a grand piano decorated with marquetries.

The former property of Eugene Corbin, 36-38 rue du Sergeant Blandan, remains a tribute to this visionary patron. His legacy has preserved a unique heritage, where each object, from acid-engraved glass to serial furniture, tells the creative audacity of Nancy School.

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