Imperial Furniture Collection
Welcome to the Imperial Furniture Collection
In the days of Emperor Franz Joseph the Imperial Furniture Collection served as the main depository for furniture and furnishing owned by the Habsburg family. Today this space houses the inventory of the world´s largest furniture collection. The building´s exterior, as well, has gone though a major change: in honour of the museum´s dedication in 1998, Italian star architect Alessandro Alverà provided it with a charming, modernistic new design.
The experience
With an exhibition space measuring some 4,000 square metres, this museum – which is regarded almost as an insider´s tip – gives the visitor fascinating insights into imperial living style and décor. In addition to objects of lofty splendour and beauty, one is also confronted with some rather curious items – such as an extensive cllection of commodes with exceedingly creative design.
Among the thousands of exhibits, there are many that are very closely associated with members of the imperial family and thus lend the collection an inimitable, intimate character – such as the cradle of Crown Prince Rudolf and a chair embroidered by Maria Theresia and her daughters.
A popular attraction for visitors is the permanent exhibition “Sissi in the Movies – Imperial Furniture for the Sets”.
Last, but not least, the Imperial Furniture Collection also examines the development of home décor away from the Vienna imperial court. From the Biedermeier period to the present, all historic epochs are documented through designs by outstanding Austrian artists such as Otto Wagner, Josef Hoffmann and Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky.
Go on a virtual tour of the Imperial Furnitur Collection
