hexagonal pot with ring handle, made from pewter 17th century, germany image © georg mayer courtesy MAK

opening on may 13th at MAK, austria is the ‘basic instruments’ exhibition featuring kitchen utensils, storage containers and recipe books dating back from the 15th century onwards. items are mostly made of copper, bronze, or lead, or finished in some form of ceramic material, decorated with secular and religious motifs, containers from both europe and elsewhere collected from the kitchens, cellars, and pantries.

'basic instruments' in the kitchen and cellar exhibition at MAK measuring cup, made from pewter 18th/19th century image © georg mayer courtesy MAK

'basic instruments' in the kitchen and cellar exhibition at MAK reclining lion bakin tin, made from copper 18th/19th century, germany image © georg mayer courtesy MAK

'basic instruments' in the kitchen and cellar exhibition at MAK ‘the personal cook’ a new cookbook. contained herein is a sound instruction of how to cook and prepare not only quadruped animals, domestic and wild, but also various birds and feathered game. now first committed to the press by m. marx, personal cook to the prince elector of mainz. frankfurt (sigmundt feyerabend) 1581 image © georg mayer courtesy MAK