This is where the Sonneveld family and their guests ate their meals. They sat round the Gispen dining table (the one you see here is the original) and were served by one of the maids dressed in a smart white apron. If they needed anything, they could call her by pressing one of the buttons underneath each corner of the table. A light would go on in the kitchen and a buzzer would sound [buzzer sound]. There's another button underneath the glass window ledge. We kindly ask you please not to touch the tableware, the table linen and the furniture. The whole of this room was designed by Van der Vlugt. The sideboard contained the cutlery and dinner service, and the glassware, all of it by modern designers, was kept in the glass display case. Mrs Sonneveld probably poured the tea herself, as prescribed by the etiquette books. She would have placed the tea service on a trolley on wheels.

If you would like to hear more about Mrs Sonneveld, press A. For the glassware in the showcase, press B. Or press C for the tableware and tablecloth on the table. Please do not touch the cabinets and the tableware. The next room on this tour, number 8, is one floor higher, next to the stairs.

ABC