MUTA - Museo Bottega della Tarsia Lignea

MUTA, the Sorrento Inlay Woodworking Museum, traces the town's marquetry tradition from historic craft to contemporary design. Its collections of inlaid furniture and objects are presented in an 18th-century palazzo alongside a working workshop.

Why it matters

Founded in 1999, MUTA preserves the history of Sorrentine wood inlay while supporting its continued practice. The museum is housed in Palazzo Pomarici Santomasi and is run by the Fondazione Alessandro e Alma Fiorentino.

What to notice

The historical displays introduce the materials and techniques of the craft and follow its development from the 15th to the 19th century. Works by 19th-century masters include Luigi Gargiulo, Michele Grandville, Giuseppe Gargiulo and Antonino Damora. Dated pieces include Grandville's secretaire of 1863 and Francesco Grandi's ebony-and-ivory coin cabinet of 1892. A painting by John Gadsby Chapman, View of Sorrento from Capodimonte, dates to 1873. The contemporary collection and active workshop show the craft's continuing evolution.

Context and history

The museum's displays connect wood inlay with Sorrento's history, including the Grand Tour and the citrus-growing landscape that supplied many of the craft's subjects. Since opening in 1999, MUTA has combined historical collections with contemporary research and educational activities.