From 04 April to 02 July 2012
Château d'Ecouen, Val d'Oise

Civil tableware from the Renaissance era that has come down through time are rare. In fact, to satisfy successive fashions, they have often been melted down over the generations. Until 2 July 2012, the National Renaissance Museum at the Château d'Ecouen, to the north of Paris, offers a magnificent exhibition devoted to the precious tableware and table arts of the Renaissance.

An occasion to discover the Pouilly-sur-Meuse Treasure, found in 2006, and comprising 31 silver pieces for everyday use dating from the 15th century to the second half of the 16th century. Among them a silver and gilded silver covered ewer with the Paris hallmark, a very rare piece because it dates from around 1480, a matching set of a dozen silver and gilded silver spoons with the Châlons-en-Champagne hallmark (about 1520) and even two silver and gilded silver salt cellars with the Paris hallmark (about 1530).

Inventing the Pouilly-sur-Meuse treasure

In the middle of the 2000s, two inhabitants of the commune of Pouilly-sur-Meuse, in Lorraine, accidentally discovered, buried in the garden of one of them, what they at first took to be old conserve cans. Subsequently classified as a National Treasure, this set of plate went to the Lorraine museum in Nancy (Musée Lorrain de Nancy). It is presented for the first time at the National Renaissance Museum.

Rare pieces

The exhibition also shows remarkable silver tableware. Their setting, enhanced by tapestries, paintings, engravings and miniatures offers a good idea of table customs in the Renaissance.