July 21, 2007 - February 24, 2008
A Taste for Chocolate explores the varied uses of cacao over the centuries and the cultural influence of chocolate on society. The exhibition traces chocolate’s historical and cultural evolution with approximately fifty examples of decorative arts and historical artifacts dating from the Aztec and Maya civilizations through the 20th century. These items are drawn from the Bruce Museum collection, private collectors, and institutions including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Brooklyn Museum, American Museum of Natural History, New York Botanical Garden, Gardiner Museum in Toronto, and Wilbur Chocolate’s Americana Museum in Lititz, Pennsylvania.
The scientific name Theobroma cacao reflects the notion that the tropical cacao tree was once thought to provide the “food of the gods.” Depicted by crystal glass, Hans Godo Fräbel created the, “Cacao pod with leaf and branch on base” circa 1984. This excuisite sculpture is currently on exhibit at the Bruce Museum, loaned by a Private Collector. Designed by Hans Godo Fräbel and Fräbel Artist, Tung Bui. The twoclear crystal glass wheels mounted on a concaved black base with a colored outline peach affixed above the wheels; exemplifies the race and the State of Georgia in abstract formation. Fräbel has donated the Tour de Georgia awards since 2003 and is proud to assist in the benefits for the Georgia Cancer Coalition. The Artists along with the Fräbel Art Society took great honor in the creation and presentation of the awards and look forward to the creation for the 2008 Tour de Georgia awards