The beautiful potpourris in this display cabinet show the richness of the noble elite in Zutphen in the eighteenth century. The nobility played an important role in the economy and society of Zutphen. The Van der Capellen, Schimmelpenninck and Van Heeckeren families had a great deal of wealth and authority. The Van Heeckeren’s were the first residents of the house you are now in. Hence Hof van Heeckeren. A rich family had a richly laid table, which didn’t lack silver. As well as the silver utensils you see in the display cabinets, potpourri was often found in the drawing room. Potpourri was the predecessor of the modern air freshener. A potpourri is a container with a partially open lid. The container was filled with a mixture of dried flowers and herbs. There are just 20 silver potpourris known in The Netherlands. Most were made by Zutphen’s silver smiths. Push A for a unique example of the crafsmanship of the Zutphen’s silver smiths.

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