Whether gold-plated ornamental bowls, a shoe-shaped drinking cup or a Roman pocket knife, a new exhibition ‘Dinner is Served’ opens up exciting perspectives on dining cultures around the world. Currently showing at Pforzheim’s Jewellery Museum in Germany, the exhibition explores the rich diversity of food and its symbolic, practical and social importance across different cultures and periods.

Europe’s aristocratic families used to indulge in luxurious banquets with extravagant table settings, which was both a demonstration of power and wealth and a pleasurable way to while away the time. Well into the 18th century, it was not unusual for people to bring their own cutlery and, quite often, valuable one-of-a-kind pieces. In the baroque period, matching dinner services came into vogue and finally, in the wake of industrialisation, became highly popular.

Food for thought

Trade with faraway countries, conquests and migration all meant evolving menus became enlivened by exotic fruits and spices, contributing to a change in customs and traditions. ‘Dinner is Served’ is a deep dive into global dining culture, combining ethnographic treasures and exquisite goldsmith work with imaginative contemporary dining utensils and everyday objects. After all, the way to learn about a culture is through the stomach!

“With this exhibition, we aim to heighten our awareness of how important dining cultures are a part of our intangible cultural heritage,” explains Museum Director Friederike Zobel.