The Landgraves of Hesse steered the fortunes of the region from the 13th to the 19th century. Profound events such as the Reformation, the Thirty Years' War, or the rule of Napoleon significantly shaped Europe at that time as well as North Hesse. Objects from the Applied Arts collection reveal a multifaceted picture of those eventful centuries. Artworks from churches and monasteries, from cities and villages, and above all from the possessions of the Hessian Landgraves bear witness to the magnificent court culture and the collecting zeal of the princes. Thus, international political references can be traced through the objects, as well as the everyday life of the people of those times.

The core of the collection dates back to the princely collections of the Hessian Landgraves. Art chamber pieces from the time of Wilhelm IV (reign 1567 – 1592) and Moritz the Learned are part of the collection, as well as gilded silver objects from the former Silver Chamber. In addition, the collection includes baroque art from the court of Landgrave Carl (reign 1677 – 1730), a historical glass collection, as well as a significant amber collection, an ivory collection, Hessian faience, porcelain from Meissen, Kassel, or Fulda, and exhibits from the princely porcelain galleries from China and Japan.