Brighton & Hove's 20th century Decorative Art and Design collections are among the finest in the Britain. The innovative collecting policy was launched in 1969 with the Jazz Age exhibition. It was organised by the Museum's then Director, John Morley, and the designer Martin Battersby, author of books on Art Nouveau and Twenties style. When Battersby withdrew the long loan of his French Art Deco collection in 1978, it was replaced by gifts of Art Nouveau furniture and artefacts from Charles and Barbara Robertson.

Further examples of work by key designers were purchased in the 1980s and 1990s through generous donations from the Friends of the Royal Pavilion, together with grants from MGC/V&A Purchase Grant Fund and the NACF. These have enabled the Museum to create holdings of Post-War design. Important gaps in the 1950s and 1960s have been filled; and purchases of exciting contemporary work, exemplifying 'style' and 'innovation' have been made.

	'Beethoven' designed by Henri-Edouard Navarre, c.1930.

The union of Brighton and Hove Councils in 1997 further enriched the holdings of 20th-century applied art with the addition of the South East Arts Crafts Collection (held at Hove Museum & Art Gallery).
In 1998, the Decorative Art and Design collections received Designation as being of pre-eminent international importance.

Items from the Decorative Art collection are on display in the 20th Century Art and Design gallery at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, grouped in sections according to their style ranging from the Aesthetic Movement, through Art Deco and Modernism, to contemporary design.

See all objects on display in the Twentieth Century Art and Design gallery