Museum of the Medeiros and Almeida Foundation

The Museu da Fundação Medeiros e Almeida, located in the heart of Lisbon, is an extraordinary place that offers a unique window into European art and culture through an exceptional collection of art objects and furniture. Founded in 1972 by António de Medeiros e Almeida, the museum reflects the passion and refined taste of its founder, a successful businessman and a collector of remarkable art sensitivity. Medeiros e Almeida was born in 1895 in the Azores and moved to Lisbon at a young age. With a successful career in the insurance and shipbuilding industry, he accumulated a considerable fortune that allowed him to dedicate himself to his passion for art and luxury objects. His collection, started in the 1920s, grew to include over 2,000 pieces of inestimable value, ranging from the 17th to the 20th century.The museum is housed in what was Medeiros e Almeida’s private residence, a stately palace located on Rua Rosa Araújo. The building itself is an architectural masterpiece, with interiors that reflect the eclectic taste and sophistication of the collector. Each room has been curated to recreate the atmosphere of elegance and luxury that Medeiros e Almeida loved.The museum’s collection is extremely diverse and includes paintings, sculptures, furniture, clocks, porcelain, glassware, silverware, and jewelry. Among the most notable pieces are works by famous artists such as Rembrandt, Tiepolo, and Rubens, as well as furniture by renowned cabinetmakers like André-Charles Boulle. The clock collection is particularly impressive, with rare and high-precision pieces covering various centuries and styles.One of the highlights of the collection is the room dedicated to clocks, which houses one of the most important clock collections in Europe. Among the exhibited pieces is the astronomical clock by Balthazar Martinot, a 17th-century masterpiece that testifies to the technical skill and ingenuity of the craftsmen of the time. This clock, along with many others in the collection, offers a fascinating insight into the evolution of time measurement and clock design.Another important section of the museum is dedicated to Chinese and European porcelain. Chinese porcelain, in particular, reflects the exotic tastes and interest in the East that characterized European courts in past centuries. European porcelain, on the other hand, includes pieces from prestigious manufacturers such as Meissen, Sèvres, and Limoges, showcasing the evolution of techniques and tastes over the centuries.The museum’s silverware collection is equally remarkable, with pieces ranging from the 17th to the 20th century. This section includes works by master silversmiths of various nationalities, including English, French, and Portuguese. The exhibited objects range from tableware to decorative pieces, all characterized by refined craftsmanship and intricate details.