Tabletop Stories from the International Museum of Dinnerware Design

When

Monday December 3, 2018: 9:00am to Saturday January 26, 2019: 6:00pm

Where

Downtown Library: Lower Level Display Cases

Description

This exhibition curated by the International Museum of Dinnerware Design in collaboration with the Ann Arbor District Library, pairs memorable stories published as books, operas, and perhaps a restaurant menu, with the notable dinnerware that followed.

Visitors may recognize at least one teapot in the form of Sherlock Holmes; plates, bowls, cups and saucers with Rockwell Kent illustrations from Herman Melville's Moby Dick; and charming dishes celebrating children's favorite book characters such as Babar and Peter Rabbit.  The exhibit explores the ubiquitous Blue Willow china pattern, marketed by the British as being derived from a Chinese legend. One may also be captivated by depictions of Charles Dickens' characters from David Copperfield and Martin Chuzzlewit.  There are simply too many stories and dishes to list, but think about the Donner Party, One Thousand and One Nights,The Story of Ping, Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera Yeoman of the Guard, and more surprises.

Come for the books, stay for the dinnerware. Come for the dishes, stay for the books.