In a press conference Tuesday, Museum Director Héctor Rivero Borrell said the museum´s collection of decorative art - mostly composed of furniture, textiles and antiques dating from the 16th to 19th centuries - "allows us to learn more about the culture in other time periods."

This year the museum itself, which was built in the 1600s, will undergo renovations to make it wheel-chair accessible. A second elevator and escalators will also be installed.

IMPORT-EXPORT EXHIBIT

The first visiting exhibit of the year will be "Import-Export," opening on February 3 and featuring contemporary designs from 14 Mexican and 14 British artists regarding the dynamism of the cultural exchange between the two countries.

Researcher and ceramics specialist Rosa Dopazo said that the museum´s unique collection of decorative art pieces "reflects the tastes and desires of Franz Mayer," the museum´s founder.

Franz Mayer was born in Germany at the end of the nineteenth century, but became a Mexican citizen in 1933. A successful businessman, Mayer meticulously built a collection of more than 10,000 decorative art items that range from ceramics to sculptures to furniture. He dedicated his entire collection to the people of Mexico upon his death in 1975.

The museum, which opened in 1986, displays many of the pieces in its permanent galleries and hosts temporary exhibits.