The museum presents the largest European collection of sculpture, silver, porcelain, and weapons from different Asian cultures, dated between 1400 and 1800. The collection was established thanks to the research carried out by collector Stefano Cardu from Cagliari who, in 1914, donated to the Municipality what he had collected in his many travels not only in Siam, present-day Thailand, but throughout Indochina.
Among the various objects are wooden sculptures, paintings, household objects, weapons, coins, silverware, and porcelain of religious or secular character. Prominent are paintings traceable to the Ramakien cycle (a Thai epic poem, inspired by the Indian Ramayana), several manuscripts, sculptures depicting the Buddha, Japanese okimono and netzuke from the Meiji era, Chinese and Siamese porcelain dating from the 14th to the 19th century. Of note is the collection of weapons, the only one of its kind in Italy. The collection has been on display since 1981.
