Berlin's Kunstgewerbemuseum presents a special exhibition at Schloss Köpenick titled "Pewter from the Middle Ages to Art Nouveau," featuring around 100 works that trace the evolution of pewter from sacred and ceremonial objects to everyday items. The exhibition highlights the material's sophisticated use in furniture-making, including pieces by 17th-century cabinetmaker Johann Daniel Sommer, who combined pewter with tortoiseshell and horn using boulle technique.
The exhibition matters because it challenges conventional hierarchies between fine and applied arts, positioning pewter as a medium of both utility and creative expression. By bringing renewed attention to a material that has slipped from public awareness despite its central role in European cultural history, the show underscores the versatility and artistic ambition of decorative arts traditions.