Sisi’s Menagerie luxury collection by the Hungarian rooted MÜÜSKA collectible design brand is a celebration of timeless elegance, where contemporary interior design meets the romance of Central European history. It brings together today’s most sought-after design sensibilities – the desire to invite nature indoors, the revival of feminine decorative language, and the growing appreciation for interiors enriched with storytelling and cultural references. 

Few royals are like Sisi of Austria-Hungary, who entered history as a rebel. The nature-loving young Bavarian princess fell in love with her cousin, the ruler of the Habsburg Empire, one of the great powers of the world at the time, and rebelled not only against her uncompromising mother-in-law but also against the strict rules of the Viennese court. The collection draws inspiration from the golden age of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, the Belle Époque, an era of remarkable artistic, cultural, and economic flourishing across Central Europe.  At its heart stands Empress and Queen Elisabeth, affectionately known as Sisi, one of the most admired figures in Hungarian and Austrian history and a global style icon of her time.

Revered for her independent spirit, her devotion to nature, and her profound love of animals, she also played an instrumental role in the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, helping to shape one of the defining moments in the nation’s history, establishing a modern state. Her affinity with the natural world is immortalised in Ernst Marischka’s iconic „Sissi” film trilogy as well. In one memorable scene, the young empress-to-be arrives at Schönbrunn Palace and rushes from window to window in delight, captivated by the imperial menagerie – the world’s oldest operating zoo and, at the time, one of Europe’s richest collections of exotic wildlife. Every animal depicted throughout this wallpaper and textile collection could be encountered within its remarkable grounds. 

Another signature motif is the faceted gemstone pattern, inspired by one of the most intriguing jewels in history. To mark their engagement, Emperor and King Franz Joseph commissioned an extraordinary ruby parure for his bride, created from gemstones once owned by the world famous Queen Marie Antoinette of France (who also hailed from the Habsburg-Lorraine family, and before her marriage was Archduchess of Austria and Princess of Hungary), who secretly smuggled them out with her hairdresser while she was held captive after the French Revolution. Following the dissolution of the empire of Austria-Hungary after the First World War, the jewels vanished without a trace, and their fate remains one of Europe’s enduring historical mysteries. Graceful, hand-drawn animal illustrations inspired by turn-of-the-century natural history, paired with bold stripes and jewel-like geometric forms, come together to create a collection that is sophisticated yet playful and humorous, richly layered with history, femininity, and timeless European glamour.

The collection includes three types of handcrafted paper wallpapers (on textile-effect, pearlescent, and metallic substrates) in six colour variations, wall murals, as well as velvet decorative pillows, the inserts of which are manufactured by the Hungarian workshop Hamvay-Láng and filled with Hungarian goose down. For the satin reverse side of the pillows, customers can request their own monogram or that of the recipient embroidered with gold thread or a thread containing 24-karat gold – the latter provided by the Piana Clerico yarn manufacturer, founded in Piedmont in 1582. The pillows arrive in a gift box, and an exceptionally unique delivery service can also be requested: they can be delivered by a horse-drawn carriage, a limousine, or a vintage car. For MÜÜSKA, it is of utmost importance that the needs of the clients take center stage; therefore, personalization is also available for this collection in terms of colorways. Furthermore, as part of a luxury concierge service, they strive to accommodate any bespoke concepts as well. 

The designer

Balázs Pécsi is a luxury expert, editor and journalist with over 15 years of experience in lifestyle content and the luxury industry, both in Hungary and internationally. He has managed several luxury magazines and served as head of PR and marketing for various luxury brands, including the Central East European regional division of French manufacturer S.T. Dupont. His articles on high society and luxury topics are featured not only on his blog, The Gentleman’s Review, but also in several media outlets. His first book, Stílusgourmand (Style Gourmand), which encapsulates his insights on etiquette and style, was published in 2024.

 

The manufacturer

MÜÜSKA collectible design brand’s core concept entails bringing contemporary art off the walls and ‘using’ it for a more holistic way of making it part of our lives. Besides wallpapers, rugs and cushions the brand’s most signature product line is the upholstered furniture. Especially the emblematic 19/20th century armchairs covered with contemporary artwork, making each piece distinctive and unrepeatable, that’s why founder and CEO Júlia Vandlik calls MÜÜSKA armchairs ‘furniture pralines’. The Sisi’s Menagerie collection is the company’s second collaboration with Balázs Pécsi, following the launch in autumn 2024 of the Millions&Billions collection, which was created using artificial intelligence and inspired by the book Stílusgourmand, the glamour and famous style icons of the 70s, as well as luxury Italian towns.