Dormant Hall Table

Unknown artist. Trestles late 15th century. Oak, 380 x 90 x 74 cm. England

From the team

Mbulelo Peter, custodian and guide at the Irma Stern Museum:

What fascinates me about this house is Irma Stern’s dining room. Personally I find that this room so resonates her presence that in my first years working at the Irma Stern, I used to be very frightened when I opened the dining room in the morning as it felt like she is around following every move of mine. What draws me most to this room is the long English dormant table that occupies almost the whole of the space. Dormant tables were grand and heavy tables taking pride of place in Medieval European Great Halls – the main halls of castles and palaces. Our table is somewhat of a hybrid – the trestles are far older than the top, which was replaced at some stage. Our dormant table creates a wonderful ambience, and it is at this table that Irma Stern hosted many long and elaborate feasts