tinker imagineers renews dutch silver museum schoonhoven
(above) ‘to be served’ showcase
photo © mike bink
all images courtesy of tinker imagineers

 

 

 

silver is a chemical that has contributed to the development of society. it has been used throughout time as a form of currency, decorative jewelry, electronic devices, and other products. in ode to the alloy, tinker imagineers has envisioned a renewal of the gallery spaces at dutch silver museum schoonhoven for their project ‘world of silver’.

tinker imagineers dutch silver museum schoonhoven netherlands
visitors enjoying the ‘fame’ showcase
photo © mike bink

 

 

 

a 14-meter-long dining table delineates the longitudinal axis of the main room, where highlights from the permanent collection have been placed in a playful manner. here, the silverware is shown in its original form. the table, laid out with cutlery, burning candles, dishes, and serving spoons, evokes concepts of festivity and magnificence. at the same time, it serves as a narrative where visitors can see how silver design has changed over the centuries. the placemats under the covers are multimedia presentations that explain various traditions, from baroque to empire style, and from the amsterdam school to the present. furthering the education of museum-goers, drawers hidden in the table concisely explain how technological developments influenced the characteristics of every period.

tinker imagineers dutch silver museum schoonhoven netherlands
dining table
photo © mike bink

 

 

 

the themed cabinets lining the perimeter each tell their story, with their own unique imagery and atmosphere. for instance, ideas femininity and masculinity are shown through typical everyday items held by a mass of blue and red mannequin hands reaching out of the walls. for the ‘dead or alive’, rattles are suspended in a horizontal volume trimmed with white lace and filled with blue and pink granules, referring to the dutch tradition of serving biscuits with aniseed comfits when a baby is born. directly below is a case with a contrasting aesthetic, trimmed with black fabric and ashes dedicated to objects used in funerals. the ‘yes, I do’ theme assumes an alternative layout. in the original décor from a 1920s jewelry store, visitors are given the chance to select items for their wedding list.

tinker imagineers dutch silver museum schoonhoven netherlands
‘man/woman’

tinker imagineers dutch silver museum schoonhoven netherlands
‘dead or alive’

tinker imagineers dutch silver museum schoonhoven netherlands
‘high tea’
photo © mike bink

tinker imagineers dutch silver museum schoonhoven netherlands
‘this is me’
photo © mike bink

tinker imagineers dutch silver museum schoonhoven netherlands
‘heavenly desire’ showcases
photo © mike bink

tinker imagineers dutch silver museum schoonhoven netherlands
‘treasure the small’
photo © mike bink

 

 

 

throughout the presentation, the accompanying text and numbers have been kept out of sight, ensuring make sure that the picture is as clean and as pristine as possible. instead, shallow drawers under the containers provide comprehensive information on the exhibits. the sides of the furnishings contain show-boxes, videos, quizzes, and humorous observations. this can be seen at the ‘serving’ cabinet,where  visitors have to guess which spoon goes with what dish, and in ‘it is worth it’, footage is shown from surveillance cameras of the theft of the silver monstrance from utecht’s museum catharijneconvent in 2013. 

tinker imagineers dutch silver museum schoonhoven netherlands
detail of the dining table
photo © mike bink

tinker imagineers dutch silver museum schoonhoven netherlands
the stavelij, or silversmith’s workplace, where silver-working techniques are shown
photo © mike bink

 

 

project info:

 

client: dutch silver museum schoonhoven
year: 2014
design: tinker imagineers
strategy and projects management: the unschooled mind company
set construction: kloosterboer decor
photography: mike bink, silver museum

 

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.