Hungarian Museum of Applied Arts

Exterior view of the museum

The Hungarian Museum of Applied Arts ( Hungarian : Magyar Iparművészeti Múzeum ; English : Museum of Applied Arts ) is a museum of applied arts in Budapest . After the National Museum of Applied Arts in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Museum of Applied Arts Vienna, it is the third oldest museum of arts and crafts in Europe .

History of the museum

In 1872 the Hungarian Parliament made available 50,000 forints to purchase works of applied art at the Vienna World Exhibition in 1873 . These pieces form the basis of the museum. The collection grew and was first shown in the stairwell of the Hungarian National Gallery in Budapest . She then moved to the old art gallery at 69 Sugár Street .

In the 1890s the possibility of building an own museum opened up. First one side of Hőgyes Endre Street was acquired and the Hungarian state opened a tender calling for the space to be designed for the museum and the arts and crafts school. Ödön Lechner and Gyula Pártos received the contract, but the building permit was not granted until 1893. The museum was inaugurated on October 25, 1896.

All kinds of applied arts are on display. Particularly noteworthy is the collection of Hungarian folk art, including porcelain and in particular that of the Zsolnay porcelain factory and majolica . Hindu and Islamic art is also exhibited.