Colonial Beverages

The exhibition, conceived in connection with the year’s event: EXPO 2015, presents a refined and unique collection of Italian 18th century silver, coming from the most important collections, including the Giovanni Raspini’s personal collection. Coffee pots, teapots, chocolate and sugar bowls, trays, from aristocratic families, are displayed within a fascinating context. More, highly prestigious paintings come to Arezzo from foundations and museums of unquestionable value such the Uffizi, along with prints, books, posters, show how in respectable Italian drawing rooms and in those of European courts, the ceremonial ritual of coffee, tea and chocolate, was a phenomenon of costume of paramount importance, such as the art of serving such beverages. The visitor may also admire an endearing tableau vivant, or a sumptuous dining table set up for the occasion, with a period tea set. And finally a sensuous experience through perfumes, fragrances and aromas issued by such colonial beverages leads the visitor to sublime act of tasting, served by personnel in 18th century costume.

“We are very attached to our territory, a continual source of inspiration for new projects - says Giovanni Raspini - and we don’t want to lose the good habit to enhance it with events of excellence and great international importance such as this. The happy idea of linking this exhibition with EXPO of Milan inevitably induces us to a dialogue with the world, and wants to celebrate two important moments for us: socializing and the art of hospitality, just like when we offer a coffee to a friend or invite him at the table, perhaps with the most important pieces of our silverware. We are so happy to contribute to this path to beauty which, we are sure, it will be a great success”.