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Origin and history

The Musée des Arts Décoratifs de Paris was founded in 1882 by the association Les Arts Décoratifs, with the mission to enhance the links between industry, culture and creation. Originally envisaged in 1879 on the site of the Palace of Orsay (fired in 1871), it was finally inaugurated on 29 May 1905 in the Marsan wing of the Palais du Louvre, after arrangements led by architect Gaston Redon. Its collections, made up mainly of gifts and bequests, reflect the evolution of decorative arts, from furniture to jewellery, to contemporary design.

The museum is organized in five chronological departments (Middle Age-Renaissance, XVIIth–XVIIIth, XIXth, Art Nouveau–Art Déco, Modern–Contemporaine) and seven themes (graphic arts, jewellery, toys, etc.). It houses about 150,000 objects, of which only 6,000 are exposed. His treasures include reconstituted ensembles such as Jeanne Lanvin's apartment (1925) or Pierre Chareau's office library for the 1925 Exhibition. The museum also includes the Musée de la Mode et du Textile (1997) and the Musée de la Publicité (1999), designed by Jean Nouvel.

The collections come from major donations, such as those of the Vever families (600 jewels of the 19th century), Doisteau (cans and goldsmiths), or Maciet (ceramics and furniture). The museum also preserves the donation Jean Dubuffet (21 paintings, 7 sculptures) and works by artists such as René Lalique, Cartier, or Emmanuel Collin. In 1996, a major renovation, linked to the Grand Louvre project, modernized its spaces, while preserving its founding objective: "maintain the culture of the arts that realize the beauty in useful".

The reserves, formerly located in the basements threatened by the Seine floods, were moved to secure warehouses. The museum exhibits only 20% of its works, the rest being kept under strict climatic conditions (70% d-hygrometry, constant temperature). Its temporary exhibitions and specialized departments (glass, wallpapers, toys) make it a must place for the study of applied arts, from the thirteenth century to the present.

Collection

Les diverses collections du musée regroupent environ 150 000 objets dont 6 000 sont présentés au public, réparties en cinq départements chronologiques (Moyen Âge-Renaissance, xviie-xviiie, xixe, Art nouveau-Art déco, Moderne-Contemporain) et dans cinq départements thématiques (arts graphiques, bijoux, jouets, papiers peints, verre)....

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