The museum funds have more than 35 000 objects of applied art from antiquity to the present day. Extensive collection includes Western European porcelain and Oriental ceramics, interesting pieces of furniture from the XVI-XIX centuries, a unique collection of Russian tile stoves of the XVIII century, art metal and fabrics and also the best student works of the XX century second half.

The exposition which is deployed in fourteen halls and galleries of the first floor of the Historical Museum building represents about 2 000 showpieces. In anteroom you can see a bit smaller temporary expositions from the museum's funds. Small Italian galleries are showing unique pieces of furniture from various historical periods. Objects of Russian applied art are exhibited in the hall named “Teremok.” These objects are: costumes, collection of Russian ethnographic dolls, heel-pieces, forged metal products, furniture. The collection of Western European ceramics and porcelain is presented widely and diversely and includes Italian majolica of XVI century, as well as unique Berlin, Meissen and Sevres porcelain of XVIII century and many other things.

The Museum of Applied Arts of the St. Petersburg Academy of Art and Design is one of a number of interesting and distinctive phenomena in Russia. The building was designed by M.Messmacher and spanned for eleven years. On 30 April 1896, the grand opening of the Museum was held in the presence of the Imperial family. Today the Museum collections number over 30.000 works of applied art from ancient times to the present. An extensive collection of Western European porcelain, Far Eastern ceramics, 16-18th century furniture are featured along with collections of glassware, and the best of students' work. These works reflect trends in Russian applied art over the years.