Fundação Ricardo do Espírito Santo Silva

The Ricardo do Espírito Santo Silva Foundation occupies the Azurara Palace, in Largo das Portas do Sol, Lisbon. Created in 1953 by the banker and collector Ricardo do Espírito Santo Silva, it began as a Museum-School of Decorative Arts, based on the donation of the palace and a collection assembled by its founder. The building, classified as a Property of Public Interest, is a palace with a 17th-century character and was once home to noble families, having belonged to the Viscount of Azurara in the late 18th century. Inside, the Museum of Portuguese Decorative Arts guides visitors through decorative arts from the 15th to the 18th century, with sections devoted to furniture, textiles, silverware, Chinese porcelain, Portuguese faience, tiles, painting, sculpture and bookbinding. The foundation also maintains arts and crafts workshops, training, and conservation and restoration, preserving traditional techniques through transmission between masters, trainers and apprentices.