FÜRSTENBERG Porcelain in the Style of the Times
January – December 2009
Decorations in the museum for the changing seasons

White Gold for King Lustik!
01.04. – 20.09.2009
FÜRSTENBERG as the Manufacture Royale in the Age of Empire (1807-1813). FÜRSTENBERG enjoyed a boom from 1800. In accordance with the taste of the time, a king's residence like that of Jérôme Bonaparte in Kassel had to be magnificently furnished because such lavishness was the only way of demonstrating a kingdom's significance. The Kassel residence pursued the French "style Empire" fashion… the magnificent French continuation of classicism. Its new products in the modern Empire style resulted in FÜRSTENBERG being appointed Manufacture Royale to the court of King Jérôme Bonaparte in Kassel. The exhibition presents this for FÜRSTENBERG royal period; with accompanying programme.

Souvenir, Souvenir!
14.05. - 18.10.2009
Ever since tourism began, travellers have always enjoyed purchasing porcelain mementos of their travels. A small selection of interesting, pretty and even funny and kitsch porcelain souvenirs is to be presented in the history of Collectors' Cups, Wall Plates and Co.

"I do!" - marriage past and present
25.06. - 18.10.2009
Stories and the history of marriage and weddings: for all who are married, who have been married, and those who intend to or never will marry: the past and the present, the surprising and the impressive. Right up to the 16th century, the law regarded the promise of betrothal – whether given in secret or in public – as the decisive act of entering into marriage. How weddings were celebrated has changed throughout the centuries. But the meal taken together was and remains the highlight of a wedding. A fact that is reflected in the German term for marriage ("Vermählung" from "Mahl" – Engl.: "meal"). Where, of course, exquisite porcelain is always essential! The white wedding dress, the veil, the myrtle wreath and much more. What is the meaning behind these items of clothing and why are they worn? What other wedding traditions exist? This studio exhibition delves into the subject.

The colour blue – variations of a porcelain tradition
15.10.2008 - 07.03.2010
Cobalt blue and white shards: since the discovery in China of cobalt as the ideal means for decorating porcelain in the 14th century, blue has been inseparably associated with porcelain. The exhibition spans the arch from the origins of ceramics to the present day. Not only very familiar patterns with cobalt-blue underglaze painting, such as onion patterns, straw flowers and India Blue are on show, other painted versions, for instance, the cliff-and-bird motif or the Blaue Deutsche Blume (Blue German Flower) are also being presented. The cobalt blue as the base colour, adorned by golden ornamentation has also been given space while various decorating techniques are also being exhibited. The benefit of cobalt as a colour is that under its protective glaze it maintains its blue brilliance even after years of everyday use. Due to the fact that these porcelain patterns are also dishwasher-resistant, their popularity continues to this day.

Wall of fame. The EXPO Wall of Hands
Permanent exhibition
EXPO 2000 – Do you still remember? The first world’s fair in Germany was certainly cause for much discussion. We look back with a friendly gaze on this multicultural event which brought around 195 nations together, and we are pleased to be able to make a special contribution to keeping the memory of EXPO 2000 alive. All heads of state, on their Nation Day at EXPO, left lasting “impressions”: Every nation’s representative left his or her hand print in FÜRSTENBERG porcelain on this occasion. Thus a unique “guest book” was created bit by bit. Together with the EXPO bowl produced by FÜRSTENBERG, the official International gift of EXPO to the national representatives, this unusual document of contemporary history is on view in the museum.
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