Imperial Furniture Museum, Furniture museum in Neubau district, Vienna, Austria
The Imperial Furniture Museum in Vienna houses an extensive collection spanning five centuries of Habsburg history, from medieval pieces to modern designs created for or acquired by the imperial court. The displays showcase objects made in imperial workshops or commissioned for royal households, revealing the craftsmanship and stylistic development of European furniture arts.
The museum was established in 1747 when Empress Maria Theresa appointed the first Court Furniture Inspector to oversee the imperial household collection. This institution preserved not only furnishings but also documented changing tastes and artistic evolution across different reigns until modern times.
The collection features works by Viennese designers like Adolf Loos and Josef Hoffmann, who shaped the development of modern furniture design in Austria. Visitors can observe how different design movements evolved and how these creators approached function and form in new ways.
The museum is accessible on foot from central Vienna or by public transport and sits near the Museums Quarter district. Plan to spend at least two to three hours to explore the different sections at a comfortable pace.
The Austrian federal government still borrows pieces from the collection to furnish government offices and official residences. This practice shows the objects retain their practical function and continue to serve in high-ranking government spaces.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
