The "old" museum collections mainly comprise 17th and 18th-century furnishings displayed in the stylish interiors of the Hotel de Coninck (built in 1755).
The absolute topper is the entirely original dining room, where the wooden chandelier,
the work of the Ghent sculptor J.F. Allaert, is still hanging in its original
position. Other interiors are decorated with 18th-century murals or with silk
wall-coverings. Illumination is provided by more than twenty 18th-century crystal
chandeliers. There are portraits of well-known figures hanging on the walls,
including King Louis XVIII of France, whose desk is also on display amidst the
fine collection of French furniture.
The Design museum Gent has one of the most superb Art Nouveau collections in
the country. The exuberant period of Art Nouveau with its floral motifs and play
of flowing lines and the more constructivist direction taken by the 1900 style
are both shown in the museum. Alongside foreign designers we see the work of
important Belgian artists like Henry van de Velde, Victor Horta, Paul Hankar,
Gustave Serrurier-Bovy and Philippe Wolfers.
Art Deco and the applied arts from the inter-war years are represented by Albert Van huffel, Huib Hoste, Le Corbusier, Emile Lenoble, Jean Sala, Jean Puiforcat, Gabriel Argy-Rousseau, Maurice Marinot, Claudius Linossier, Gaston
Eysselinck, Emile Ruhlmann, Chris Lebeau and others.
The collections from the seventies and eighties are dominated on the one hand by the more important Belgian designers like Pieter De Bruyne and Emiel Veranneman, and on the other by Italian design, particularly from groups like Alchimia and Memphis, which shifted furniture design away from its purely functional role. This resulted in astonishingly sculptural furniture in bright, cheerful colours and with amusing decorative elements.
The Design museum Gent exhibits furniture, glass and ceramics by Alessandro
Mendini, Ettore Sottsass, Michele de Lucchi, Massimo Iosa-Ghini, Michael Graves, Marco Zanini, Martine Bedin, Nathalie Du Pasquier, Mateo Thun and others.
In addition to this there is work by prominent postmodernists like Hans Hollein, Richard Meier and Aldo Rossi. Important furniture, glass and ceramic creations by Borek Sipek can also be seen.
Work from this country is represented by creations from young jewellery, furniture and ceramic designers.
