Museum of Arts and Crafts

The museum's initial holdings were founded several years before the institution was formally assembled. The first objects for the future museum were acquired in 1875 by Izidor Kršnjavi using a donation from a bishop. The museum was formally established in 1880.

Since its inception, the institution has been systematically developing its collections, reorganizing existing ones, and founding new departments to reflect evolving museological conceptions. The first permanent display opened in unsuitable premises at Gajeva Street 26, marking the beginning of its public presence.

The museum's permanent display has evolved through several locations. The complete permanent display was first seen in its own venue in 1909. The current permanent display, which opened in 1995, was realized according to the ideas of former director Vladimir Maleković and the spatial articulation of architect Marijan Hržić.

This exhibition extends over three floors covering more than 2,000 square meters and includes chosen objects from all museum collections, representing a significant architectural and curatorial achievement in the late 20th century.

The museum curates approximately 100,000 objects within its Collections Department, organized into 19 diverse collections. These include architecture, ceramics, clocks and watches, devotionalia, glass, graphic design, ivory, furniture, metal, musical instruments, painted leather, paintings, photographs, printing and book binding, prints, product design, sculptures, textiles, and fashion accessories. A special holding is the collection of Anka Gvozdanović, located at 8 Visoka Street. The collections systematically cover the history of applied arts from the 4th to the 20th century.

The museum's library, developed since 1880, has transformed into a contemporary specialized library supporting scholarly work. Its holdings consist of 65,000 volumes, including books, journals, reference works on art history, print portfolios, and pattern albums. A special unit within the library contains rare and old books from the 16th to the 19th century, which holds significance as a museum collection in itself.

The library exchanges publications with over 150 similar institutions globally and subscribes to numerous Croatian and foreign journals in the discipline.

The Museum of Arts and Crafts is significant for its role in preserving and interpreting the history of applied arts and crafts in Croatia and beyond. Its systematic approach to collection development since the late 19th century has created a comprehensive archive of material culture. The 1995 reorganization of the permanent exhibition by Vladimir Maleković and Marijan Hržić modernized the presentation of these holdings, ensuring the museum remains a vital educational and cultural resource. The institution's library further cements its status as a center for research in art history and museology.