Historical Society of Delaware - Opulence and Elegance

The Historical Society of Delaware is pleased to present a new exhibition, *Opulence and Elegance*, a celebration of American and European craftstmanship over three centuries.
	Throughout history, as society's basic needs have been met, there has always been a desire for objects or services that make life a little easier or just show off one's sense of style. Certain goods have consistently risen to the top of their class to stand out as the height of elegance or opulence. At one point, having a matched set of silver spoons for tea, or simply using napkins at the table, separated the elegant from the everyday. In another era, a set of flatware by Tiffany, with thirteen pieces per place setting, represented the height of fashion.
Because of the trappings of opulence and elegance are rare and expensive, only a select few ever have been able to indulge those tastes. Opulence and Elegance examined this rarified world from two angles. Drawing from the Historical Society of Delaware's own collections, this exhibit presented examples of elegance in clothing, furniture, silver, and ceramics that Delawareans have made and owned for the past 300 years. Pieces by artisans such as Tiffany, Pepper, Baccarta, and Waterford were on display.
	The Society also presented pieces gathered by regional collectors to Faberge' and his competitors. These are objects designed and manufactured in late nineteenth and early twentieth-century Russian workshops and demonstrate trend-setting levels of opulence and elegance.