Places of Interest in Vienna

MAK (Museum für Angewandte Kunst)

Stubenring 5, A-1010, Wien, Tel: 711 360, Website: www.mak.at, U-Bahn: Landstraße (Wien Mitte)

The displays are set out as follows:

Romanesque Gothic Renaissance - a display including medieval handcrafts, 15th and 16th century furniture, ceramics (including Italian Majolica) and paintings in a Renaissance style

Baroque Rococo Classicism – a fine collection of 18th century furniture and porcelain. The highlight here is the porcelain room taken from Dubsky Palace in Brno (in the Czech Republic)

Renaissance Baroque Rococo – primarily a display of intricate lacework and fine glasswork, of which many items are from Venice, the centre of skilled glass working in the Renaissance period

Orient – a fine collection of valuable and highly decorative oriental carpets. Many carpets on display were once the property of the Hapsburgs and were passed to the Austrian State at the end of World War I

Historicism Art Nouveau – among the items here are exquisite Thonet chairs. The Thonet Company were pioneers of a process allowing wood to be bent and shaped into intricate designs

Empire Biedermeier – a collection of items produced during the Biedermeier period, including pieces produced for the Imperial court. The porcelain and glassware is particularly impressive

Far East – a collection of Chinese and Japanese ceramics, Buddhist sculptures and numerous other delicate pieces

20th/21st Century Architecture – a large collection of architect’s models that give the visitor an idea of new and novel architectural styles and designs

Wiener Werkstätte (Vienna Workshop) – the Wiener Werkstätte, which was the brainchild of Josef Hoffman, Koloman Moser and Fritz Waerndorfer was formed in 1903 to produce a wide range of practical but innovative items including furniture, ceramics, textiles and metal work. The workshop eventually became a victim of the Great Depression and closed in 1932, but the range on display here shows just how productive and inspiring it was

Art Nouveau / Art Deco – various items by leading lights of the Art Nouveau movement (Jugendstil in Austria) including Otto Wagner, Josef Hoffman and others

In addition, you’ll find other high quality temporary exhibitions throughout the year, while those in need of a rest after wandering through the display rooms should visit the MAK café (a pleasant spot in which to recharge your batteries). To do the MAK full justice, we’d recommend that you set aside at least a half day within your itinerary. Discount entry with a Vienna Card.

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