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Exhibitions

Luxury isn’t the opposite of poverty but the opposite of vulgarity - but don’t tell the V&A

Plus: the Duke of Wellington’s London home reopens to the public

25 April 2015

9:00 AM

25 April 2015

9:00 AM

What is Luxury?

V&A, until 27 September

Apsley House

Different concepts of luxury may be inferred from a comparison of the wedding feast of Charles Bovary and Emma Rouault with the habits of their contemporary the Duke of Wellington. At the Bovary wedding were served four sirloins, six chicken fricassées, stewed veal, three legs of mutton, four chitterlings (with sorrel), brandy, wine, foaming sweet cider, yellow custards, tarts and sweets with an architectural cake comprising angelica, oranges, nuts, jam and chocolate.

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