The objects displayed in this case offer a glimpse into the wealth and ceremonial character that distinguished the aristocratic table during lavish banquets. They represent table furnishings used by the dominus on solemn occasions, designed not only for practical use but also to showcase the host’s prestige and refined taste.
Dinner, considered the main meal of the day, was, on special occasions, held in triclinium dining rooms. The name of the room derives from the lectus—a three-sided reclining couch (triclinia) on which guests would lie down to dine. The walls, often magnificently frescoed, were illuminated by tall bronze candelabra, frequently decorated with motifs inspired by animals or plants, like those displayed here. At the top of these stands were finely crafted bronze oil lamps, which diffused both light and fragrance, as the fuel used was almost always scented vegetable oil.
At the center of the triclinium stood a wooden table, here represented by an example with legs adorned with griffin heads and a base shaped like an elongated feline claw. The tableware on such occasions was the most luxurious, as can be seen in this selection: a goblet in very fine ceramic, two cups—one in glass and one in silver—and a ladle, also in silver.
One particularly intriguing and symbolically powerful element enriched the banquet table: the larva convivialis, a small skeleton—here represented by a silver example from the National Archaeological Museum of Naples—which reminded diners of the fleeting nature of life. This object served to urge guests to enjoy life’s pleasures, foremost among them food, blending luxury with contemplation on the transience of existence.