The Royal Museum of Mariemont has a large collection of porcelains, mainly from the 18th and 19th centuries, that demonstrate the diversity of items produced by Belgian manufacturers (primarily Tournai) at the crossroads with European production. 

Mariemont’s collections include textiles, garments and vast quantities of lace that are calling out to be examined. Some of the pieces belonged to Raoul Warocqué’s display collection. Others hail from the wardrobes of the women of the Warocqué family.

The notion of decorative arts is itself problematic. It reflects the tension between the utilitarian and aesthetic values of the objects in question.