Museum of Decorative and Applied Arts was founded in 1895. The museum was originally located in Rudolfinum. In 1897-1899, his own building was built according to the project of the architect Joseph Schulze. In 1900, the grand opening of the new building took place, on the ground floor of which the museum exposition is located. In 1906, Dmitry Lanna presented the museum with its collection of glass, which was placed on the second floor. During World War II, the exhibits were hidden outside of Prague. In 1949, the museum was nationalized. In 1970-1985, the building was reconstructed, the museum was replenished with new collections.
At the moment, the permanent exhibition of the museum is located in six rooms:
1. "Votive Hall" is dedicated to the history of the museum. The hall presents gifts from founders and patrons, paintings, Karlstejn’s treasures (a treasure found during the reconstruction of Karlštejn castle), a collection of Hugo Wawrechka (ancient faience, rare folk ceramics from the Czech Republic, Moravia and Slovakia). In the niche of the wall there is a bronze bust of Emperor Franz Joseph I by Emmanuel Halman.
2. "The history of fiber" - a hall devoted to textiles and fashion. The exposition includes ancient tapestries, Coptic fabrics, silk patterned fabrics, lace, embroidery, textile printing, textile collections of the 20th century, clothes and shoes of clergy, fabrics for covering the altar with gold and silver embroidery, beads, glass beads, lace. As well as toys, furniture, clothes (models from the exhibition "Prague Fashion Salons 1900-1948", which represents the rise and decline of Prague fashion salons this period).
3. "Time Machine" - a hall of watches and measuring instruments. On display are desk, floor and tower clocks; sundials and astronomical instruments from well-known European manufacturers; framed wall clocks and picture clocks with romantic landscapes; jewelry (pocket watches, ring watches, pendant watches) and more.
4. "The Art of Fire" - a hall of glass and ceramics. It presents objects from Venetian and Bohemian glass, porcelain, ceramics, made in various techniques, as well as objects for the dining room, mirrors, stained glass, interior accessories.
5. "Printing and photography" - a hall of applied graphics and photography. The exhibition presents old books, postcards, graphic drawings, copyright photographs of 1839-1950, Czech posters of 1850-1938, fonts, furniture that is related to writing and graphics (various tables and counters, library cabinets and chests of drawers, tables and secretaries )
6. Treasury - a hall of metals and other materials. The hall presents jewelry (including from the famous Czech garnet), works from semiprecious stones, ivory and other materials (tortoise shell, horn, mollusk shells, corals, ostrich eggs, coconuts), cast iron, tin and non-ferrous metals. Also in the hall are furniture and interior items decorated with colored marble and precious stones using the pietra dura technique, as well as enamel, ivory and non-ferrous metals.