Crowding the Parlour Jane Cook, McGill University Post-
Confederation domestic interiors in Eastern Canada feature
crowded rooms, the busiest of which seem to be the parlour. From
floor to ceiling and wall to wall, every nook and cranny is
crammed with numerous objects, while architectural details and
furnishings stimulate all the senses. Advances in science
revolutionize the appearance and contents of domestic interiors.
Discoveries of new flora, fauna and natural resources both at
home and abroad lead to a demand for novel ways of classifying
and presenting a host of articles and materials. Mantelpieces,
centre tables, shelves and whatnots overflow with intriguing
objects. Fragile butterflies are suspended in glass screens, and
exotic birds displayed in cages. Scientific innovations also
expand the strictly visual and acoustic features of domestic
space. Electrical and gas lighting improve upon kerosene lamps,
while phonographs offset grand pianos. 'Nature' is also brought
indoors in the form of mass-produce