Applied Arts Collection of Milan

The Applied Arts Collection of Milan (Raccolte d'Arte Applicata di Milano) is a museum of decorative arts situated within the Sforza Castle museum complex in Milan, Italy. Established in 1878 and inaugurated as the Museo Artistico Municipale on 10 May 1900, it operates under the management of the municipality of Milan. The collection holds particular significance for its comprehensive holdings in jewelry, ivories, ceramics, and art glass, representing one of Italy's notable repositories of applied arts from medieval times through the present day.

The museum's origins trace to 1878, with its formal inauguration occurring on 10 May 1900 upon completion of castle restoration works. Its collections grew substantially through private donations and acquisitions. In 1876, nobleman Malachia De Cristoforis donated a collection of Renaissance German secular goldwork, 16th-century maiolica, and small bronzes. Francesco Ponti contributed a maiolica collection in 1895. The celebrated Trivulzio collection was acquired in 1935, bringing together tapestries, goldwork, ivories, paintings, and sculptures. Late antique ivories from painter Giuseppe Bossi and medieval textile collections from the Fortuny and Regazzoni families also entered the holdings. The Sambonet collection of silverware represents another significant addition. Following World War II, the studio BBPR undertook a reinstallation of the galleries that remains substantially visible today, with modifications. In the early 1970s, BBPR also designed the present installation of the Sala della Balla.

The museum is organized into several specialized sections, with particular emphasis on goldwork, ivories, bronzes, enamels, and art glass. The ceramic collections encompass medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque pottery, with notable groupings of maiolica from Faenza, Urbino, and Pesaro, as well as Lombard ceramics spanning from the Middle Ages to the present day. Special attention is given to 17th-century maiolica from Lodi and Milan. The museum also maintains collections of European chinaware and earthenware. The art glass collection features significant pieces of artistic and historical importance.

Among the collection's signature works, the Gonzaga Cup stands out as a masterpiece of artistic glass. This crystal clear vessel is decorated with a pattern of small golden flowers and the Gonzaga coat of arms featuring a quadripartite black eagle on a white background. The Arazzi Trivulzio (Trivulzio Tapestries) constitute another highlight, displayed in the Sala della Balla. This series of twelve tapestries represents the months of the year, woven between 1503 and 1509 after designs by Bramantino. The series begins with March, illustrating agricultural activities of that period, and concludes with February. Each tapestry follows a fixed scheme: within a frame, the personification of the month occupies the central position, surrounded by the coats of arms of the Colleoni, Gonzaga, and d'Avalos families.

The Applied Arts Collection occupies spaces within the Sforza Castle, specifically the Sale Ducali (Ducal Rooms) and those of the Rocchetta. The Sala della Balla, located on the first floor of the Rocchetta, serves as a significant exhibition space. Although a late 15th-century document refers to a castle hall used for important events, festivities, and games including one called 'Balla,' recent scholarly research has corrected Luca Beltrami's 19th-century identification. The actual festive hall was located in the ducal courtyard area, now housing the Furniture Museum. The room now called Sala della Balla was in fact used as a granary and flour storage for the entire castle, which explains its large dimensions. The BBPR studio's 1970s installation divides the space: the right wing houses keyboard instruments and part of the Musical Instruments Museum, while the left wing, arranged from the 1980s onward, displays the Arazzi dei Mesi.

The Applied Arts Collection of Milan is located within the Sforza Castle museum complex in Milan, Italy. It is owned and managed by the municipality of Milan. The museum's official website is https://artidecorative.milanocastello.it/. Visitors access the collection as part of the broader Sforza Castle museum complex, which represents one of Milan's principal cultural institutions and tourist destinations. The collection continues to fulfill its role as a public museum dedicated to the preservation and display of applied arts, with its postwar reinstallation by BBPR still largely defining the visitor experience.