Ušlechtilé nápoje
The Finest Beverages

Coffee, Tea and Chocolate in the Aristocratic Residences of Bohemia and Moravia in the Second Half of the 17th and 18th Century

Summary/Abstract: The non-European objects in the interiors of aristocratic residences of the 17th and 18th centuries belong to a little investigated field of interest. For this reason, they provide a vast range of opportunities for researchers. The castle and palace inventories represent one of the possible archival sources that can be used for investigation of exotic objects. These sources allow researchers deeper insights into the mind and intellectual world of the owners and help them to answer questions concerning the exotic objects they had purchased for their castles. This paper is based on an in-depth investigation of eighty inventories on exotic food and delicatessen. The author of the paper describes the rooms in the castles and residences where these beverages were prepared and consumed, the manner, in which they were served, plus the variety of beverages. Furthermore, she focuses on topics such as the matter of representation, the aristocrat’s taste in art and world of ideas.

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