Museo Bottega della Tarsia Lignea

The MUTA is a private museum which was opened in 1999 inside the Pomarici Santomasi Palace (18th century) in the historical centre of Sorrento. During the restoration of the Palace, the original architectural and decorative works were brought to light, including frescoes and ceilings covered with painted paper made by hand. The display of the ancient and modern inlay collection is presented on four floors of the building and they document through separate divisions, the art of inlaid woodwork in its many facets. The ground floor displays the exhibition of a modern collection of inlaid objects and furniture with decorative themes related to contemporary culture. On the first floor, the historic collection is introduced by a photographic documentation on the works of inlay masters from ’400 to ’700 with a special focus on the various schools of inlay of ’800. Before going any further through to the following sections devoted to the inlay of Sorrento, the museum displays a large exhibition of paintings, prints and photos along with a model of the town of Sorrento, allowing the reconstruction of the environment in which the local inlay of ’800 was developed.