Museum of Decorative Arts, Turin
Museum of Decorative Arts (Museo di Arti Decorative) in Turin is a very interesting collection of antique interior items. And it is decorated with taste, in the style of an aristocratic mansion of the 17th and 18th centuries. There are no trinkets here, all things in the museum's collection really have considerable cultural value. And they deserve to be called art objects.
History of the building and museum
The museum is located in the Palazzo Accorsi, a 17th-century building with a significant history. Its construction had lasted for 10 years and was completed in 1626, at that time it was called Domus Padi (Casa di Po). Originally it belonged to the monks of the Order of St. Anthony, there was a complex of churches and a hospital. In 1776, the order was abolished, and the building became the property of Opera della Mendicità Istruita, and then, in 1826, became the abode of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus.
In the 19th century, the Italian artist Antonio Fontanesi lived and died here.
In 1901, the concierge appointed here with his family settled in the building. His son, Pietro Accorsi, became an antiques dealer, and after a while he began to rent the palace rooms for his collections. Later, in 1956, the collector completely bought the mansion. He turned it into a full-fledged exhibition gallery. In 1982, the antiquarian died, after which the foundation was created, bearing his name. The foundation's headquarters were located in the premises of the mansion, and the head of the association Giulio Ometto, partner of Pietro Accorsi, began the restoration. In 1999, the museum opened its doors to visitors, including the merchant's collections.
Exposition of the museum
The museum is located in 27 rooms of the building. There are more than 3,000 pieces of decorative art, including paintings, ceramics, furniture, crystals and tapestries in its collection. All this is the legacy of the antiquarian, who was known not only in Italy, but also abroad. Each of the rooms is special, and decorated in its manner, some can be grouped according to style or exhibits. The route of the museum is built fairly consistently, and all the halls can be divided into two parts. The first includes a kitchen where porcelain, ceramics and cutlery are exhibited. Among them there are Baccarat crystals, silver and copper tableware, snuffboxes, exquisite porcelain Meissen and Frankenthal. A musical hall with a piano from the beginning of the 19th century serves as a kind of transition.
The second part of the exposition includes living rooms and bedrooms. Furniture, paintings, tapestries and other interior items are exhibited here. And there are exhibits not only from Piedmont, but also from Venice, France and China here. The living rooms of the French kings Louis XV and Louis XVI are beautifully decorated. Special attention should be paid to the Chinese salon with rice panels from China and Piffetti salon dedicated to the famous master who made mahogany furniture. The highlight of the entire collection is in the living room of the famous designer Christian Dior, made of gilded and matte glass panels. This is the chest of drawers by Pietro Piffetti made out of mahogany, known as "doppio corpo", and dated 1738. It is one of a kind, and connoisseurs call it the most beautiful furniture in the world. This luxurious chest of drawers is made in Baroque style, it has reliefs and inserts made of ivory, mother of pearl and tortoise shell.
Naturally, as in other museums, temporary exhibitions and various events are held here, as well as separate routes for schools and families.
How to get there
The museum is located almost in the heart of the historical part of Turin, on Via Po, 55. Down the street, down to the river, you can get to the Vittorio Veneto Square. In the opposite direction, on the elevation, there are Piazza Castello and many of its sights, and literally a block away – the Technical Museum. Near the museum there is a bus stop S. Ottavio. It can be reached by tram № 13, 15, and buses № 13N, 55, 56, 61, N04, N10, S04, S05, S18, W01, W15, W60.
Opening hours: Tuesday–Friday from 10:00 to 18:00, Saturday to Sunday from 10:00 to 19:00, lunch from 13:00 to 14:00. Monday is a day off. The ticket office closes half an hour earlier. Phone number (+39) 011 8376883.
Admission: the cost of a full ticket to the museum is 14 euros, with a discount (groups, pensioners) – 12 euros. The price includes a guided tour of the permanent exhibition and temporary collections. For children under 12 – admission is free. Data of April 2018.
