THE ART OF ENJOYMENT
new products from another world
14-09-2019 to 05-01-2020
autumn exhibition on the introduction of coffee, tea and tobacco
Delicate teacups, copper coffee pots, beautifully crafted pipes and snuffboxes with spicy pictures, in the 17th and 18th centuries colonial goods such as coffee, tea and tobacco became extremely popular with the European nobility and wealthy bourgeoisie. Beautiful luxury objects were made, with which you could enjoy and show off these new wares. From 14 September 2019 to 5 January 2020, Museum Joure will be displaying a selection of the most beautiful objects. see in the exhibition 'the art of enjoyment, new products from another world'.
In the 17th century, Amsterdam was the center of the world. Products from all corners of the world found their way to Europe via Amsterdam. In addition to spices, for example, this also applied to coffee, tea and tobacco. These colonial products became very popular, initially especially among the "rich and famous.
Tea, with a fine display of showmanship
The nobility and wealthy bourgeoisie bought the most exquisite tableware, beautiful tobacco boxes and silver tea accessories to consume these new products. A fine display of ostentation. A real tea culture arose, with beautiful tea domes in the garden, where ladies served the most delicious teas. Coffee was more of a man's product, consumed in special coffee houses.
Culture of pipe smoking
Pipe smoking developed its own traditions, keeping the pipe burning as long as possible for the gentleman on stand became a sport. This culture of pipe smoking is still maintained. It is even on the Dutch list of Cultural Intangible Heritage and the Dutch Federation of Pipe Smokers is working hard to preserve this tradition.
Museum Joure displays a fine selection of objects from its own (depot) collection and loans, showing the culture surrounding the consumption of the new products. In addition, there is the other side of coffee, tea and tobacco: as soon as this luxury product became more widely available, taxes, for example, came into play. The downside of these products, the way producers were squeezed out and, of course, the health risks of tobacco consumption, is touched on in this exhibition.
Practical info
The exhibition will be opened on 14 September at 11 a.m. by Mr. Arno Brok, King's Commissioner in Friesland. Around the exhibition several lectures will be organized, viz.
- Sunday 15 September: Cor Crans - the culture of pipe smoking
- Sunday, Oct. 6: Margaret Breukink - coffee, tea and chocolate, new products from another world
- Sunday 3 November: Louis Bracco Gartner - The wonderful world of Sumatra tobacco
The lectures start at 3 p.m. in the afternoon. Entrance fee is the normal museum price (€7.50 including a cup of coffee/tea).