The phenomenon of luxury—caught between moral condemnation and economic progress—has fascinated people since ancient times. Whether it involves material opulence or time and health: because the concept oscillates between material and immaterial values, it defies rigid definitions. A special exhibition explores this ambivalence and sheds light on the transformation of luxury from the early industrial era to the Weimar Republic—from an aristocratic privilege to a bourgeois status symbol.
Through cuisine, colonial goods, mobility, architecture, fashion, design, and leisure, the exhibition traces the genealogy of excess. Colonial goods became mass-produced commodities, while haute cuisine established itself. The Orient Express, ocean liners, and grand hotels elevated mobility to a coveted status symbol. In fashion, pioneers such as Charles Frederick Worth founded haute couture, while department stores made mass-produced goods affordable and Art Nouveau artists like René Lalique created exclusive one-of-a-kind pieces. Special attention is given to Baden-Baden as a world-class, sophisticated fashion resort.
Every Sunday at 3:00 p.m., visitors have the opportunity to tour the exhibition on a public guided tour.
The guided tour costs €3 in addition to the admission price; advance registration is not required.
Through cuisine, colonial goods, mobility, architecture, fashion, design, and leisure, the exhibition traces the genealogy of excess. Colonial goods became mass-produced commodities, while haute cuisine established itself. The Orient Express, ocean liners, and grand hotels elevated mobility to a coveted status symbol. In fashion, pioneers such as Charles Frederick Worth founded haute couture, while department stores made mass-produced goods affordable and Art Nouveau artists like René Lalique created exclusive one-of-a-kind pieces. Special attention is given to Baden-Baden as a world-class, sophisticated fashion resort.
Every Sunday at 3:00 p.m., visitors have the opportunity to tour the exhibition on a public guided tour.
The guided tour costs €3 in addition to the admission price; advance registration is not required.
This text was translated by an AI.
