DRESDEN -  The special exhibition "Down the hatch! Welcome cups in the Green Vault" centers on 23 selected drinking vessels, 17 of which come from the collection of the Green Vault of the Dresden State Art Collections. These so-called welcome cups were to be completely emptied by high-ranking guests of the Dresden court as a greeting. Starting with these original masterpieces of goldsmithing, the exhibition explores the extravagant drinking customs of the Renaissance and Baroque periods. 

The selection of spectacular and sometimes whimsical silver pieces, complemented by examples in glass, porcelain, and stone, showcases the impressive diversity of drinking vessel forms. The goldsmiths' imaginations knew no bounds. Alongside classic goblets, cups, and tankards, there were unusual shapes such as ships, barrels, and windmills. 

Not only these, but also animal-shaped vessels, such as those resembling horses, bears, or deer, presented a challenge to the drinker. Anyone unfamiliar with the proper handling risked spilling the contents or not being able to empty the vessel completely. The result: it was refilled.

Drinking goblets often playfully reference the function of the buildings in which they were served, such as the stag-shaped drinking vessels, which were usually intended for hunting lodges. At the Elector's Hoflößnitz winery, a goblet shaped like a pair of vintners was used. The so-called "Schlösschenpokal" (Little Castle Goblet) by the Dresden goldsmith Georg Mond (died 1623) is particularly outstanding. The 65.5 cm high vessel depicts a detailed model of the pleasure pavilion at Sonnenstein Fortress in Pirna, which was destroyed during the Thirty Years' War. The goblet is the only surviving evidence of what the building looked like. 

The popular "Maiden's Cup" type likely emerged in the mid-16th century. It was particularly prominent at weddings. The goldsmith's work, in the form of a festively dressed lady, holds two vessels: a large, bell-shaped skirt, which was filled while upside down, and a smaller, movable cup in the figure's raised hands. The bridal couple had to drink both wine-filled vessels simultaneously or one after the other without spilling a drop. A film shows how this novelty vessel was handled. 

At another media station, visitors can browse through drinking books from the time of Augustus the Strong, which were fully digitized and transcribed in preparation for the exhibition. Alongside the signatures of the guests, lighthearted toasts can be read. 

One of the drinking books is presented in the exhibition for the first time with its accompanying monumental covered glass goblet. Another documents four banquets following hunts in the Dresden area in the years 1710, 1714, 1715, and 1728. 

Welcome vessels from the Porcelain Collection, the Museum of Decorative Arts, and the Armory complement the high-caliber selection from the Green Vault and showcase the diversity of this imaginative category of objects. Further loans from the Kupferstich-Kabinett (Cabinet of Prints and Drawings), the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister (Old Masters Picture Gallery), the Münzkabinett (Coin Cabinet), the Saxon State and University Library Dresden, and the Hoflößnitz Foundation illustrate the broader cultural and historical context. In addition, two recently discovered shooting trophies from a private collection are presented. These were attractive prizes awarded by Elector Johann Georg II to the victorious marksmen at festive shooting competitions.     

The exhibition is part of the program celebrating the 300th anniversary of the Green Vault. At the same time, it marks the culmination of a ten-year research project on the Green Vault's significant collection of goldsmith work, which resulted in a three-volume catalogue that, for the first time, makes all 348 objects in the collection accessible and provides information about their history and function within the context of courtly representation.

A rich program of events complements the exhibition. On three dates—August 8, September 19, and September 20, 2026—a special guided tour of the exhibition will be offered, followed by a wine tasting at the Hoflößnitz winery in Radebeul, complete with explanations of the history of Saxon viticulture. Six lectures will delve deeper into the topic and offer entertaining insights into historical drinking customs and traditions.

Residenzschloss, 16/07/2026—03/01/2027