This article focuses on a table and two armchairs in a neo-Gothic style, which are being analysed and restored in the studios of the Federal Monuments Office (Bundesdenkmalamt). Their creation, craftsmanship and integration into the holistic concept of the Marble Palace are examined with regard to their historical, stylistic and functional significance on the basis of contemporary sources and current art-technological studies. Based on the principle of “form follows function” – as formulated by Horatio Greenough in 1852 – the extent to which the materiality and design of this furniture allow conclusions to be drawn about its original function and intended effect in an imperial living environment of the 19th century shall be the subject of analysis. The work reveals that the furni-ture is not an expression of individual taste, but part of a well thought-out, representative overall work of art that corresponds to the prevailing social ideals of the era. The underlying objective of these restorative efforts is, therefore, orientated towards a museum presentation as part of the historical ensemble and not towards a renewed use as an object of utility. It becomes clear how interdisciplinary cooperation, careful documentation and a concept of measures tailored to the ensemble contribute to a sustainable restoration approach that fulfils both museum and monument conservation requirements.