The Vienna Furniture Museum, Vienna, Austria
Molly McNair, WithIt
The Austrian royal family lived large. When they weren’t arranging high-profile marriages or warring with other European powers, they were relaxing in one of their grand, exquisitely-decorated palaces across the empire.
Austria is a democracy these days, but visitors can still get a taste of bygone days at the Vienna Furniture Museum (or, in German, the Möbelmusem). The museum showcases Austrian-designed furniture spanning four centuries, from gold-plated Rococo cabinets to elegant Art Nouveau chairs. Of course, in a city with as much history as Vienna, nearly every piece has a story. There’s the velvet padded wheelchair made for Queen Elisabeth Christine in the early 1700s; an elaborate writing desk owned by Empress Maria Theresa, from which she probably arranged her daughter Marie Antoinette’s marriage; and even the throne of Emperor Franz Joseph, Austria’s last king.
After your visit, grab a coffee and slice of cake at one of the nearby cafes, and think about which pieces most inspired you. Trends are cyclical—who’s to say that Rococo canopy beds won’t be all over High Point Market next year?
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10:00am-5:00pm
