Turning
the Tables
Tabletops and Table Talk
Montreal,
Friday, May 19, 2004 —
With
its beautiful place settings, elegant manners and tightly
scripted social rituals, the dining table represents a world of
passion, politics and savoir-faire. The exhibition Turning
the Tables explores this culturally charged universe of
intrigue and emotion through thematic displays of tableware and
decorative arts. Organized by the Musée de la civilisation in
Quebec City, Turning the Tables will be presented in
Montreal at the McCord Museum of Canadian History from May 28,
2004 to April 3, 2005.
Visitors
to the show will recognize familiar dining situations and
discover the history and significance of mealtime etiquette. The
table is presented in an innovative and even theatrical way,
using ingenious contemporary settings. In this realm, tabletops
are the just the surface we see — they represent the decor,
but also habits, gestures and rituals. Table talk exists below
the surface — in the form of emotional confrontations and the
exercise of power and influence. Unconventional installations,
created by Antoine Laprise, evoke this complex sub-current with
humour and whimsy.
From
Table to Table
At
the entrance to the exhibit, a multipurpose table reminds
visitors that this particular part of the household was once
used for work and play as well as meals. The four tables that
follow hold magnificent place settings and accessories that
reflect their various uses: the family table, a place for social
instruction and learning to “mind your manners!”; the
business lunch, where politics, money and power come to dine;
the 19th-century middle-class table, where good manners and
systemized refinement were in vogue; and the romantic dinner,
with fine glassware, candlesticks, and an intimate atmosphere
conducive to love and seduction. We end with a modern table
presented as a video installation, which urges us to examine our
own habits of mealtime interaction.
Traditional
presentations of artifacts complement the thematic displays and
relate the storied history of the art of the table. Visitors
will also learn table trivia — for example, that Catherine de
Medicis introduced the fork to France at the table of Henry III,
who tucked a napkin in around his collar to protect his starched,
fluted ruff.
A
Remarkable Collection
The
collection of the Musée de la civilisation includes some 7,000
objects related to the art of the table. Turning
the Tables is
a wonderful opportunity to discover nearly 700 of these. Among
the notable pieces on display are a porcelain dinnerware set
with a Latona pattern
in 22 carat gold leaf (1955) that belonged to Maurice Duplessis,
and a six-setting, hand-painted, fine porcelain dinnerware set
(1880) given to Quebec lieutenant governor Sir Adolphe Chapleau
by American President Rutherford B. Hayes. In addition to these
exceptional items, more china, cutlery, tea services, glasses,
vases, candlesticks, an egg slicer (Tiffany, 1897), tablecloths,
and napkins are also presented. An interactive game challenges
you to identify unusual objects from the collection of the Musée
de la civilisation.
Amuse-bouche
à la McCord
The
McCord Museum also houses an impressive collection of Canadian pottery,
silverware, glass and fine china. A selection is on display in
the Museum’s entrance hall, including an elegant dessert
service (1805-10) used by Louis-Joseph Papineau, 19th-century
Quebec politician and leader of the Parti patriote. A showcase
featuring objects from the Linen Chest complements this display
and brings a contemporary perspective to the art of the table.
Activities for Families
The
McCord offers a full range of bilingual activities in
conjunction with.
Starting in June, And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon
invites families to test their observation skills in
the exhibition and set a table for a special occasion.
From July through September, families can partake in the weekend
workshop Raise your Glass and decorate a drinking glass
inspired by the treasures on display. All activities are
included in the price of admission.
Images
available upon request.
Source
and Information:
Nike Langevin
Head of Communication
(514) 398-7100, ext. 239
nike.langevin@mccord.mcgill.ca
This
exhibition was organized by the Musée de la civilisation, Québec.
The
McCord wishes to acknowledge the support of the Ministère de la
Culture et des Communications and the Montreal Arts Council.
690
SHERBROOKE STREET WEST
MONTREAL, QUEBEC CANADA
H3A 1E9
Tel.: (514) 398-7100
E-mail : info@mccord.mcgill.ca
www.mccord-museum.qc.ca