Aufgetischt offers fascinating insights into food cultures from around the world. Historical table manners, unusual objects, and contemporary design show how closely culture and food are linked.

What do golden ceremonial bowls, personal cutlery, or a "Roman pocket knife" reveal about past societies? The exhibition "Aufgetischt" ( Served Up ) at the Pforzheim Jewelry Museum shows how closely food culture, power, identity, and everyday life are linked—and invites visitors on a journey through the history of communal dining.

Between historical artworks, ethnographic objects, and contemporary design, the exhibition opens up new perspectives on food as a cultural phenomenon. Here, food appears not only as a necessity, but also as an expression of rituals, social status, and societal change.

Food culture through the ages

Elaborate banquets once served as a stage for European royal houses to display their power and prestige. Personal cutlery was a status symbol until the 18th century, before uniform tableware sets became fashionable in the Baroque period and became increasingly widespread with industrialization.

At the same time, trade, migration, and voyages of discovery fundamentally changed European diets: new spices, fruits, and culinary habits found their way onto plates and permanently influenced eating habits and table rituals.

Writing, design, and everyday culture at the table

The exhibition brings historical goldsmithing, ethnographic treasures, contemporary design, and objects of everyday culture into an exciting dialogue. A multimedia installation entitled "The Wishing Table" expands the classic exhibition experience with digital elements and makes the cultural significance of food a sensory experience.

Why "Aufgetischt" is worth watching

Anyone interested in cultural history, design, or social developments will discover much more than just tableware here. The exhibition shows how food connects people, shapes traditions, and highlights social change—a topic that is more relevant today than ever before.

After all, culture also goes through the stomach.

October 25, 2025, to April 19, 2026