CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Claret to Concorde - 100 years of Entente Cordiale

Claret to Concorde: 100 years of Entente Cordiale

The Entente Cordiale, a diplomatic agreement between Britain and France, was signed on 8 April 1904. The National Museums of Scotland will mark the 100th anniversary of this event with a special winter exhibition for 2004.

The content of the exhibition focuses on the exceptional collection of French material acquired by NMS over the last 100 years.

Location: Royal Museum – Main temporary exhibition space

Dates: 3 December 2004 to 16 January 2005 (7 weeks)

 

Exhibition concept

Over the last 100 years, NMS has acquired outstanding French material from several historical periods. This exhibition celebrates the anniversary of the Entente Cordiale by ‘showcasing’ these collections. The objects will be presented in an atmospheric set, draped in velvet with ‘gilt picture frames’ and claret coloured carpet, dramatically lit. All the proposed objects are visually spectacular and a simple narrative will complement the material, enhanced by contemporary portraits and landscapes

Exhibition sections:

Introduction

Here we provide an outline of the 1904 Entente Cordiale. The actual document will be on display and contemporary images of those involved in the signing and preparation of the agreement. Included in this section are 600 coins minted this year to celebrate the 100th anniversary, kindly provided by the Royal Mint.

 

The case for claret!

Scotland’s alliance with France can be traced back to 1295 when the Auld Alliance was first established. Not only did it provide Scots mercenaries to the French armies, it gave Scotland the pick of the finest French wines! – hence the reference to claret in the exhibition title. NMS has several fine examples of claret jugs and tappit hens that relate to this very popular part of the alliance!

‘To drink with ws the new freshe wyne

that grew apone the revar Ryne,

Freshe fragrant claretis out of France,

Off Angeo and Orliance’

William Dunbar extolling the selection of wines to be had in Edinburgh to King James IV

The Lion and the Lily

Mary, Queen of Scots, Queen of France. The Penicuik Jewels and the Galloway Mazer. These items either bare strong French influences or, in the case of part of the Penicuik jewels, were made in France

The ‘Sun King’ and Britannia

The Lennoxlove toilet service was made in Paris during the reign of the ‘Sun King’ Louis XIV for Frances Teresa Stuart, Duchess of Richmond and Lennox, a favourite of Charles II and the model for Britannia on the old British coinage.

The service was bequeathed to the Blantyre family and brought to Lethington, renamed Lennoxlove, just outside Haddington in 1702. Within 18 months a silver toilet service was being made for Blantyre’s sister in Edinburgh by Colin McKenzie. This service provides us with the opportunity to highlight the influence of the French service on the Scottish service.

The Emperor and the Duke

Two magnificent items would be displayed in this section; Princess Pauline Borghese’s travelling service and, all or part of the Napoleonic tea service.

Both items were in the possession of the 10th Duke of Hamilton, an ardent admirer of Napoleon. The Duke was bequeathed the travelling service by Princess Pauline in 1825. He later bought the tea service in 1830 from the French government.

The Collecting continues – Concorde

The exhibition ends by highlighting our latest and possibly, most spectacular acquisition this century, which continues the theme of entente cordiale between the two nations - Concorde.

 

CONTACTS

National Museum of Scotland

Chambers St
Edinburgh

www.nms.org.uk