Les Arts Décoratifs is a state-approved not-for profit private organization founded in 1882, in the wake of the Universal Exhibitions, when a group of collectors banded together with the idea of promoting the applied arts and developing links between industry and culture, design, and production.

An original, multi-faceted institution, Les Arts Décoratifs pursues the objectives it was given at the outset: “to keep alive the culture of the arts in France which seek to make useful things beautiful” and to maintain close links with industry, forging numerous partnerships in various fields.