Golden Dishware: Luxury and Privilege
In the everyday life of royal dynasties, fine works of art, expensive fabrics and tapestries, jewelry and, of course, golden dishware have always been present — gold tableware is one of the classic attributes of royalty. Today, gilded plates and goblets let anyone feel a little like an aristocrat.
The tradition of golden tableware
People have always valued gold. The noble metal symbolises wealth and majesty and signals the high status of its owner. Because gold is soft and easy to shape, it has been used since ancient times to make plates and kitchen utensils.
The rulers of ancient Egypt and ancient Rome, noble Scythians, Indian princes and the priests of pre-Columbian America all ate from precious plates.
An interesting fact: in some traditions, serving a meal to a former enemy on golden plates was a gesture of peace.
Between the 10th and 15th centuries, wealthy households often served food on thin round and oval gold plates. They were handmade and decorated with precious stones and engraving. Golden dishware was brought out for every solemn ceremony: displaying the most expensive objects showed everyone that the owner belonged to the upper class.
Feasts of the tsars
In old Russia, the feasts of the tsars were unthinkable without precious tableware. In the 17th century Russian nobles frequently used gold cups, ladles and chalices, usually decorated with pearls and gems. Gold ladles (kovsh) were shaped like boats and looked like birds floating on water. Imported wines were served in gold cups and fresh mead in gold ladles.
Cutlery for European courts
For European royal houses, gold cutlery was produced largely by goldsmiths in cities such as Hamburg. Knives, forks and spoons were richly decorated with chasing and intricate ornaments. Because gold is a very soft metal, it was used only for the handles, while knife blades were made of steel.
A lasting gift
Golden dishware is first of all a work of art, not just a household item. Giving gold sets as presents became fashionable several centuries ago: aristocrats exchanged refined tableware made of the precious metal, and the reason for the gift was often engraved on it — the initials of the recipient or a family coat of arms. Such sets were passed down as family heirlooms, and their value usually grew over the years.
An interesting fact: Islamic tradition discourages eating and drinking from gold and silver vessels in this world.
Golden tableware today
Today many goldsmiths, designers and fashion houses create genuine works of art from gold, including exclusive cutlery of very high value. A wealthy buyer rarely uses such tableware for everyday meals; it is displayed as a valuable object and a sign of prosperity. People who simply want to preserve their savings usually prefer gold in its plainest form — bars and coins.
Read also the article:
Golden moments of world history: Exquisite VIP tableware
Topic guide: Gold in Luxury, Art & Culture
Luxury in details: the most expensive cufflinks
The Golden Mask of Agamemnon: Debunking the Myth
Luxury Without Borders: The Whims of Millionaires
