Well worth the detour! Originally I was planning to visit the Jewish synagogues though turns out in…read moreOctober the largest of them was closed and the rest of them were quite small, so I ended up skipping them. This museum of decorative arts looked intriguing with its mix of genres and mediums, so I pivoted and spent 2 hours here!
Established in 1875 by the Prague Business and Trading Chamber, its purpose was the preservation of hand-made objects and art in an era of increasing mass machine production. The initial exhibits were displayed in the Rudolfinium (a few blocks over from the current building) then a new building built in 1897-8 and opened in 1900.
The museum nationalized in 1949, became affiliated with the National Gallery in 1959-69, then transitioned back into being an independent organization in 1970. A significant renovation closed the museum from 1970-85, finally reopening in 1985 with collections showcasing the Renaissance thru 19th century.
Among their inventory are objects of glass, porcelain, ceramics, commercial arts and prints, textiles, fashion design, furniture, clocks, metals, jewelry, toys and documentation for these items. One of the most significant collections acquired in 1995 is the Karlštejn treasure: a collection of 387 precious objects dated to the era of Charles IV, found at Karlštejn Castle in the 1880s when repairs were being made.
The total time to go thru this museum could be easily 3 hours if you take your time, not including the special exhibits, though if you don't take your time to read all the descriptions you could rush thru in about 1.5 hours. Admission is 350 CZK regular adults; 180 CZK discounted. Special exhibits are extra depending on the exhibit. Closed Mondays, rest of the days open 10am-6pm except Tuesday open later until 8pm.
