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The
season of Christmas is upon us once again, dear gentels.
The great feasts of the Renaissance demanded the greatest detail, and beauty.
Fine tableware was the pride of the Renaissance household.
The finest serving dishes, plates, wineglasses, jugs and more were
prominently displayed in the court cupboard.
These were the most colorful glass, metal, pottery, or wood in design and
beauty.
The potter would make the design and coat it with a white tin glaze.
The painter would put the designs on while the glaze was still wet --
which required him to work quickly and with no errors, for it would be
impossible to correct any mistakes. Then
it would be fired in the kiln. On occasion it might even be fired a second time
for added beauty and color.
One could find porcelain from China in the cupboards as well as coconuts which
had been mounted in silver as cups! Venetian
glass was also a very precious commodity in the period, being requested as far
away as England.
From Italy also came the refined table manners and the use of forks at meals.
During many of the elaborate meals, there was usually a wondrous container for
salt.
This was used to mark the division between the honored guests (Who sat
"above the salt") and the less important ones who sat below.
The utensils became more common in the 16th century, as the Spanish were
bringing home their plunder from the new world.
Silver became much more accessible, and the Goldsmith's Guild kept a very
strict eye on business. The items
would be weighed, the metal tested for purity, and finally stamped with a
special guild mark. This stamp was
known as the "hallmark" as it was stamped on at the guild's
headquarters, the Goldsmith's Hall.
Yet at Christmas these pieces of art would be covered by various delicacies,
roasts, pies, and a variety of other food stuffs. The wine glasses would be
filled with very prime wine, and all would look toward their tables.
Enjoy the holiday season, and remember this when you break out the fine china!
Now what to serve on these regal plates is another matter.
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