The William & Ethelmae Nurse Stoneware Collection at the Peel Heritage Complex
This summer a 349 ceramic piece donation from the collection of William and Ethelmae Nurse arrived at the Peel Heritage Complex.
The majority of the pieces were manufactured in the 19th century in southern Ontario although some pieces have travelled across the country and ocean to end up in this collection. There are 13 pieces that were made in Quebec, another five were made in Nova Scotia and a handful were probably made in either the U.K. or the U.S. These wares were produced locally at small potteries for local merchants who would use them as containers for wine, alcohol, butter and other food products.
About Stoneware
The core of the collection consists of salt glazed stoneware crocks and jugs. Stoneware pottery is fired at around 2400ºF, the same temperature as bone china. This produces an extremely hard and durable product.
The stoneware pieces were decorated through a process known as salt glazing. When the crocks were being fired, salt was thrown into the kiln. As the salt evaporated, it bonded with silicates on the clay surfaces to form a glaze. Before firing, the pieces could also be decorated by painting a design with powdered cobalt. When fired the cobalt turned bright blue. By the end of the 19th century cheap glass containers replaced salt glazed stoneware.
The Collectors
Throughout the 1960s and 70s the Nurse’s collected pottery before ‘Canadiana’ was recognized in the mainstream of the antiques field. Their foresight probably saved many of the items in the collection from an unhappy end at the hands of people who did not appreciate the utilitarian beauty of stoneware containers.
The Nurses have been active members of the Oshawa community for over 40 years and their philanthropic work for the arts, sports and recreation continues with this donation to the Peel Heritage Complex.
“This collection makes the Peel Heritage Complex one of the most significant repositories of stoneware in the country. The Nurse’s have helped to put us on the map.” David Somers, Curator.
TOP
Made by Hand, Miniature Art and Craft Sale
Nov. 30 – Dec. 12, 2004
Featuring original art, scarves, jewellery, cards, baskets, stained glass and much more, no piece in the exhibition is larger than 11 x 17.
Hours: Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Thursday evenings, 6:00 – 9 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, Noon – 4:30 p.m.
Please join us for our open house events on Dec. 5 and Dec. 12 from 1 – 4 p.m. Some of the artists will be on hand with additional artworks and crafts to sell and visitors can enjoy free admission to the Complex. This is a great time to see the exhibition, Painted and Peel: The Peel Landscape by the Group of Seven & Their Contemporaries.
TOP
Diane Young
Dec. 14 2004 – Jan. 24, 2005
 |
"Sculpting to me is the magical experience
of releasing a soul from an inert mass of clay."- Diane Young
|
Don’t miss sculptor Diane Young’s solo exhibition in the Whitney Gallery featuring memorable pieces from her collection.
Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1953 Diane attended the faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Manitoba for only one year when she decided to follow a different career path. It was only five years ago when Diane resumed her study of art and began focusing on life-drawing and portraiture.
Although she has been sculpting for less than four years, she has completed six commissioned works and sold many castings of her pieces. In the past year, she has shown her work at the Toronto Inside Art Expo, the Neilson Park Creative Centre, the juried Annual Etobicoke Group Art Show and currently has two sculptures on display at the KOR Gallery in Kitchener.
For more information on Diane Young’s work, visit her website at: www.dianeyoungsculpture.com
Past Events- (Details)
Contact Us
Further information regarding the Whitney Gallery
can be obtained by contacting: Gayle Mitchell at 905-791-4055 ext.3633
