Hofmobiliendepot, Kaiserliches

Kaiserliches Hofmobiliendepot (Imperial Court Depot of Movables), founded by Maria Theresia, responsible for furnishing all Imperial palaces and residences with furniture, wallpaper, tapestries and carpets. The office, which was then called the "Hofmobilien- und Materialdepot" (Imperial Depot of Court Movables and Materials), was accommodated in a new building on Mariahilferstrasse, Vienna, in 1901. As legal successor to the Monarchy, the Republic of Austria made the collection (Bundesmobiliensammlung) accessible to the public in 1924 with the object of presenting the style of living of the Court through the ages, from the early Baroque to the end of the Monarchy. The institution is administered by the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs; the exhibition (at Andreasgasse, Vienna 7) which has been extended and reorganised, has been managed by the Schloß Schönbrunn Kultur- und Betriebsgesellschaft m. b. H. since 1998. Highlights of the collection are Biedermeier and Jugendstil objects. Qualitatively, the only comparable collection of old period furniture is the "Garde Meuble National" in Paris.