The National Museum of Decorative Arts (Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas) was created in 1912 as the formerly baptised National Museum of Industrial Arts and renamed in 1992. It is situated in a historic 19th-century mansion next to the Parque del Retiro near Madrid’s centre. Founded by a group of intellectual activists aiming to promote the niche of high and medium-quality art and craft products, the focus was to advance education and technical training of arts and crafts.

The museum’s extensive and growing collection exhibited on four floors ranges from traditional decorative and industrial arts from the 14th century to 20th and 21st century design objects. Visitors may discover rich collections of metalwork and silverware, ceramics, furniture, ivories, fabrics, contemporary design and a photograph archive. With its social responsibility programme, the museum is committed to making the spaces accessible to a large public and ensuring it adapts to contemporary social realities.