Magical, Flying and Confidence Tables: Intimate Dining of the 18th-Century Nobility
This international conference explores the fascinating, hidden world of private life and elite sociability among the European nobility in the eighteenth century. It examines how the desire for absolute privacy, political discretion, and informal intimacy reshaped the culture of aristocratic dining, sparking remarkable architectural and technological innovations.
11–13 October 2026
Český Krumlov Castle, Bellaria Summer Palace
CONFERENCE ORGANIZERS
The National Heritage Institute, Regional Historic Site Management in České Budějovice, State Castle and Chateau Český Krumlov, The Foundation of The Baroque Theatre in Český Krumlov, The Silesian University, Faculty of Philosophy and Science in Opava, The National Museum of Agriculture in cooperation with Ivan Day, Petra Burianová and Milan Svoboda
At the heart of this gathering are the mechanical wonders of the era—ingenious "flying," "magical," and "confidence" tables (tables volantes or confidences). Designed to rise through the floor directly from lower-level kitchens, these devices eliminated the presence of servants, allowing hosts and guests to converse completely uninhibited.
Presentations by leading international curators, culinary historians, and architects will guide attendees through European noble courts and royal residences. Papers will uncover the principles of French mechanics, Denmark’s lost flying chairs, the mathematical table of Sicily, the exotic atmosphere of Sweden's Chinese Pavilion, and the “wishing table” of Weimar. Beyond court etiquette and Baroque culinary symbolism, the conference highlights the rigorous processes behind restoring these mechanisms, including the authentic Magical table at Český Krumlov's Bellaria Summer Palace from 1760.
Finally, the event will trace how this Baroque illusion and the craving for high-tech dining continue to echo in modern design and architecture.
Cost of three-day conference package: EUR 600 (incl. VAT)
Booking in advance is essential due to strictly limited numbers; only 20 conference packages are available.