Scholten & Baijing: The Dinner Party / True-to-Life Design

In galleries and museums, design objects are frequently displayed on pedestals or in glass vitrines but rarely in something resembling the everyday living environment for which they were conceived. The seemingly lived-in but recently deserted ‘stage set’ created a more natural and adventurous way of viewing designed objects, particularly glassware, ceramics, polished steel, textile, furniture and carpets.

The sharp contrast of the contemporary tableware, all designed by the Dutch studio Scholten & Baijings, against the historic French-styled panelled interiors made visitors ponder as to what once may have taken place in the room. As well as being used for music, the Norfolk House Music Room was also used by the original household for card games and general social intercourse before the V&A acquired it after Norfolk House’s 1938 demolition. All food presented on the table was handmade and individually conceived and created. No one piece was similar to the next.

The visitor enters just seconds after the guests have left to smoke a cigarette in the garden. One can use this unguarded moment to look at the luxurious dinner table and interior undisturbed. The music is still playing softly…” - Stefan Scholten.