“Collecting is not merely the acquisition of things. It means preserving a part of our Canadian heritage. There is a very complex range of motives that go into making a collector and they are as dissimilar as the [items] they collect. One of the very strong motivating forces is the sense of delight in discovering and attaining the objects.” From: The Early Furniture of Ontario and the Atlantic Provinces, ©1974.
I have been an eclectic collector for many years, but only within the last 5 years or so have I become interested in Canadian pottery. Oddly enough, I did not start collecting out of any passion for Canadian pottery, but as an extension of my interest in Canadian history. No true social history can be revealed without an understanding of the everyday material culture of a nation.
Collecting Canadian pottery, for me, is about doing research. And, of course, there is always the hunt – for treasures, for details, for connections. Research gathers all of those connections together and this is the place where my information on Canadian pottery lands.
My hope is that others will find this website useful in looking for information and for identification of Canadian pottery through the photos and research it provides.
Please feel free to contact me with any information you may have on this fascinating area of Canadiana.
I have a few mugs and ash trays that were my parents. Would you be able to tell me more about them especially their age and if they are worth anything? I can e-mail you pictures once you have reached out to me.
I would be happy to take a look at your pics – I’ll do the best I can to help identify the pieces. I do not do valuations online, however. But I may be able to answer your questions about the age of the pieces. Maria.
I tried to make contact using your “contact” page. Is that site down?
Is there a phone number I could use?
I will have it checked out. Thanks Rita.
I got this piece from my mother. She acquired it in the 90s while living in Goderich, Ontario. It is a shell shaped bowl with moss green images of an insect and leaves. I can send more pictures if needed. Can you tell me anything about this piece?
Hi Rob. I will need more photos as the most info can be gained from the base and any marks of the piece. It may, however, be a studio artist piece, in which case I may not have info on pottery. If you can provide more pictures, I’ll post them and we’ll see if there is anyone from Ontario who might be familiar with the studio artist or pottery manufacturer. attach pictures of any marks on the piece and we’ll begin there. Fascinating piece – I love it! Maria
Thank you, Maria. It’s great to find such a much needed resource
I cam across your website. Nicely done.
I am preparing a page on Stan and Jean Clarke. Do you have any images of their works you could share?
Many thanks.
Barry
Hi Barry,
I do not believe I do have any pics of their work. However, I have hundreds of photos of Canadian pottery, so there could be some in there somewhere. My focus is more of the mid-century manufactured pottery than of the work by studio artists, although I have many photos of those pieces as well. If I come across any, I will contact you.
Maria Haubrich