The Hessen Kassel Heritage furniture collection is characterised by a wide variety of styles and contains pieces used by various different social classes from the time of the Middle Ages to the present.
Furniture previously owned by the landgraves of Hesse forms the original core of the collection. In part, the prestigious pieces also served the purpose of demonstrating their absolute rule, and are now on display in the former palaces of the landgraves, as well as the Hessisches Landesmuseum (Hessian State Museum), which is managed by Hessen Kassel Heritage.
Since the end of the 19th century, the collection has been steadily increased through complementing new acquisitions. The collection therefore now includes high-quality furniture formerly owned by members of the middle classes as well as richly decorated rustic furniture. The furniture, which dates from the late 18th century to modern times, also includes examples made by outstanding designers such as David Roentgen, Michael Thonet or Henry van de Velde, for example. However, the kind of utilitarian furniture owned by the majority of the population is also represented.