Mayer’sche Hofkunstanstalt

Mayer'sche Hofkunstanstalt is a workshop in Munich that specializes in stained glass, mosaics, and decorative artworks housed in a historic building. Craftspeople here work with techniques including glass cutting, gilding, and mosaic assembly to create both traditional and contemporary pieces.

The workshop was founded in 1847 by Joseph Gabriel Mayer and became a center for artistic glass and mosaic production. Recognition came in 1882 when King Ludwig II granted it the title of Royal Bavarian Art Institute, acknowledging its importance to the region's artistic heritage.

The workshop attracts artists and craftspeople from around the world who come to learn and collaborate on glass and mosaic projects. Visitors can sense how traditional techniques remain central to creative work here, bridging historical craftsmanship with contemporary artistic practice.

Visitors can arrange guided tours to watch craftspeople at work and see the different production stages of glass and mosaic creation. It helps to check opening hours in advance and wear comfortable shoes, as tours involve walking through various workshop areas.

The workshop maintains an office in New York and has completed projects across the globe, from Pakistan to Chile. This worldwide presence reveals how a Munich-based craft tradition reached far beyond Bavaria to influence architectural commissions internationally.