Museum of Portuguese Decorative Arts

The Ricardo do Espírito Santo Silva Foundation, created in 1953 by Ricardo do Espírito Santo Silva, is a Portuguese institution of private law and public utility, recognized nationally and internationally for its technical and scientific skills in the area of decorative arts, traditional crafts and conservation and restoration.

Its mission is the protection, promotion, dissemination and transmission of the art of know-how in decorative arts. Reaffirming its role and importance in the cultural context, FRESS integrates:

• The Museum of Portuguese Decorative Arts – the conservation, research and exhibition of works bequeathed by the founder are in line with the importance given to the traditional Portuguese arts and crafts. A guided tour of the Museum can be combined with a guided tour of the Workshops.

• FRESSforma is our school that has as its vocation the teaching and preservation of a remarkable know-how. The training is provided by highly qualified masters and trainers.

• 18 Traditional Arts and Crafts Workshops that produce new works of rare technical and artistic quality and integrate traditional methods with more contemporary language.

• The Department of Conservation and Restoration ensures the conservation and restoration of furniture and immovable heritage, both in laboratory and in shipyard.

Our organic model benefits from the articulation between the Museum of Portuguese Decorative Arts, FRESSforma, 18 Workshops and the Department of Conservation and Restoration.

After several decades, the Foundation continues to be a prestigious reference in the dissemination and preservation of the know-how of Portuguese decorative arts.