Banquet plate and Renaissance culture: a day in the life

Abstract

The paper discusses the many functions of banquet plate within the spatial and gestural framework of feasting at the Renaissance court. During the Cinquecento, a golden age of Italian gastronomy, an increasing variety and number of silver and gold vessels were used for formal dining, including basins, ewers, food warmers, drinking cups, sauce boats, confections dishes, wine coolers, forks and other accoutrements. Banquets were conceived as spectacles where plate was displayed on tiered sideboards or credenze and also used as tableware that was handled by servants, patrons and guests. At these events, costly table furnishings would be seen in motion against an ongoing show of culinary extravaganzas punctuated by live performances and musical intermezzi . The Gonzaga court of Mantua (1450–1550) offers a rich context for studying how these precious vessels were handled in public during service, as well as behind the scenes, where their movements were carefully regulated in household ordinances. (pp. 621–633)

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