Initiated in 1877 within the framework of Milan's municipal art museum;the Castello Sforzesco collections of applied art are what now remains of the project for a museum of industrial art.They constitute one of the richest;most significant and best-known sections of the Castello Sforzesco museum complex due to the presence of some masterpieces known throughout the world.We refer in particular to the excellence of the ivory sculptures;the examples of the goldsmith's craft;the fabrics and the tapestries (including the Trivulzio Tapestries of the Months).The collections of ceramics (over 6;000 items in earthenware;majolica and porcelain) and furniture are remarkable in both quantitative and qualitative terms.Attention should also be drawn to the collections of bronzes;leather items;artistic wrought iron and glassware.The exhibition of works is organized on the basis of technical typology with the exception the furniture section;where the various arts connected with cabinet-making over the ages are gathered together for synchronous display in an experimental installation entitled From the Sforza Dynasty to Design.