Barcelona Guide
The northern suburbs
Museu de les Arts Decoratives
Address: Palau Reial de Pedralbes, Avinguda Diagonal
Opening time: Tues– Sat 10am–6pm, Sun & hols 10am–3pm
Price: €4.20, valid for all Palau Reial de Pedralbes museums; free first Sun of month
Website: www.museuartsdecoratives.bcn.cat
The Museu de les Arts Decoratives provides a fair old romp from Romanesque art through to contemporary Catalan design, but there are some beautiful pieces here, starting with a pair of delicate thirteenth-century Andalusian boxes showing clear Arabic traits – these are two of the very earliest pieces in the collection. Side rooms showcase the various periods under the spotlight, with displays of highly polished Baroque and Neoclassical furniture contrasting with the varied Art Deco and modernista holdings.
The highlight here has to be the four-metre-high stained-glass window of 1900, depicting the sardana (a circle dance) being performed in a scene that looks back to medieval times for its inspiration. The entire latter half of the gallery concentrates on contemporary Catalan disseny (design), from chairs to espresso machines, lighting to sink taps, though there's not much context provided and in the end it's a bit like walking through a furnishings store where you're not allowed to buy anything. English-language notes are provided if you'd prefer to put some names to goods and objects.