Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague

The Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague is a national museum dedicated to applied arts, design and craft. It holds important collections of glass, textiles, furniture, metalwork and graphic design.

Exhibitions span historic and modern applied arts with a strong emphasis on Bohemian glassmaking, historic textiles and period furniture. The museum presents changing design approaches across centuries and includes objects illustrating industrial and graphic design developments.

The institution was established in the late 19th century amid efforts to preserve and study applied arts and craft traditions in Central Europe. Its collections grew through acquisitions, gifts and transfers that reflect the region’s production and design history.

Situated in Prague, the museum occupies a central urban location accessible from the historic center and serves as one of the city’s principal applied-arts institutions.

• Bohemian glass: A national museum of applied arts with one of the Czech Republic's most comprehensive collections of Bohemian glass and decorative arts.
• Established institution: Founded in the late 19th century as part of a broader movement to collect and study applied arts and design in Prague.

What to See #

• Glass collection: A major department focused on glass and Bohemian crystal with examples spanning glassmaking techniques and decorative forms.
• Textiles, furniture and metalwork: Departments for textiles, furniture and metalwork that document applied arts and design from the medieval period to the 20th century.
• Graphic and industrial design: Graphic design and applied arts displays that include posters, typography and industrial design pieces illustrating changing design trends.