The Canadian Collector: Glass, Pottery, Furniture, Firearms of the 19th Century

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The Canadian Collector: Glass, Pottery, Furniture, Firearms of the 19th Century

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nunc cocnosco

ex parte

THOMAS J. BATA LIBRARY TRENT UNIVERSITY

Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2019 with funding from Kahle/Austin Foundation

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The

Canadian

Collector

"

No. 1. Sugar Bowl and Cover: Deep aquamarine. Mallorytown Glass House (Circa 1825).

Made

at

The Canadian Collector Glass - Pottery - Furniture - Firearms of the Nineteenth

GERALD Author

an Introduction

F. ST. GEORGE Canadiana

COLES

STEVENS

of “In a Canadian

With

Curator,

Century

Attic’’

by

SPENDLOVE

Collections,

Royal

PUBLISHING COMPANY TORONTO, CANADA.

Ontario

Museum

LIMITED

COLES

©

COLES

CANADIANA

COPYRIGHT

1974

PUBLISHING TORONTO

AND

COLLECTION

PUBLISHED

COMPANY —

CANADA

BY

LIMITED

INTRODUCTION

grow collectively very passed much the same way ^N^ational that peoplecivilizations grow individually. Canadain has through infancy and childhood

in its national thought, and is now

end

period of adolescence.

of the troubled

troubles of the last quarter-century

have

Most

reaching the

of the world’s

been caused

by too much

nationalism;

it is rare indeed, and possibly unique, to find a nation

like Canada

which

possesses too little of this quality.

This has the

effect usually of an excessive respect for the ideas, contributions manufactures

of other nations, without

necessary for unbiased institutions. This is exactly what

examination

having

and

the critical faculty

of the merits

has taken place in Canada,

of one’s own and the effects

have been far-reaching. It is shown, for instance, by the large numbers of Canadians in the field of American education. At home they are undervalued in the United Anyone

who

States, however, has done much

of Canadian lecturers.

in relation to British and American

audiences

a Canadian

has a slight advantage.

lecturing in Canada

to underestimate

educators;

knows

the tendency

their fellow-Canadians

This is a sign of national immaturity

as

which will probably

be corrected in the near future. The next step will be Canada’s coming of age, and the emergence of a distinctive culture representing all that is highest in the thought of the country Canada

and its outlook on world affairs and cultural matters.

is remarkably

as soon as Canadians tion or hyphens,

free from the inherited hatreds of Europe, and can call themselves

Canadians

without qualifica¬

we can expect most confidently the creation of a new vii

Introduction

viii national type which

will have much

to offer in the building up of a

unified world civilization. A preliminary step in the creation of a sane and reasonable of Canadian origins.

nationalism

is to have

some

knowledge

spirit

of Canadian

History in books alone can be dull stuff, although the history

of Canada

presents a record of heroism

and

adventure

difficult to

equal elsewhere. When it becomes possible to “document” history by means of arts and crafts, it becomes much more alive and more truly the possession of our own Intellectually and

minds.

culturally Canadians

called a perfect inheritance.

The French

have

what

might

be

tradition was often the best

of its kind, and included bravery, chivalry, and exquisite discrimina¬ tion.

The spirit of the French

Renaissance

was brought

to Canada

before 1680 by Bishop Laval’s craftsmen, much as one would bring a potted plant, and it grew in its adopted country for a century after the parent plant had died.

Signed pieces of furniture by eminent

ebenistes were brought over by government

French

officials and the nobility,

and were intelligently copied by native cabinetmakers. Extremely fine altar carvings and candlesticks were made in Canada from almost the earliest times, while church Quebec

from

the end

and

secular silver was

of the seventeenth

century.

tradition was equally rewarding, and brought ing of personal stability and poise. furniture were brought Canada

Many

made

The

English

a possibly greater feel¬

fine specimens

out, and superb examples

of English

of English silver.

was fortunate to have had these two main currents of cultural

influences flowing in this direction, but it did not end there. American Canada

in

War

of Independence

and contributed

meant

an element

that many

Americans

of the Canadian

The

came

to

character which

Introduction

otherwise

IX

would

arithmetic

be much

to see what

have also contributed a composite

It does not require much

all this adds

up to.

Other

mental

national groups

extent, and the result has been

to a considerable

cultural heritage wide and varied in range and rapidly

unified in its character.

becoming The

needed.

typical Canadian

of the past has been a hard-working,

self-

respecting and generally very likeable individual and one cannot help respecting him. Upon a settler’s first arrival in Canada it was cus¬ tomary to build a log cabin. After the land was cleared and turned into tillage, prosperity usually came would

be far more

of human

nature.

ambitious. When

to the thrifty, and the next house

An aesthetic sense is an essential part

you look at the long-deserted sites of those

early log dwellings, you discover that they often commanded

a lovely

view of landscape

old lilac

or waterway,

bushes or flowers which wild.

and it is usual to find some

once escaped from the garden and now

This love of beauty

has found expression in many

grow

crafts and

applied arts of early Canada. Mr. Gerald

Stevens

tive and extremely particular embodies

has given us a carefully composed,

useful treatment

his treatment

of some

of early Canadian

very valuable pioneer work.

assisted by the researches able to say that “The

of Mrs. Lome

Edith

subjects.

glass and

In

ceramics

In the realm of glass he was Pierce.

I am

Chown

Pierce and Gerald

Glass,”

just presented

lection of Early

Canadian

Ontario

is the largest and most

Museum,

important

informa¬

complete

sibly the only collection — of early Canadian

happy

to be

Stevens

Col¬

to The

Royal

collection — pos¬

glass in any

museum.

Nothing can be more instructive concerning a person’s real motives in forming a collection than his final disposition of it, and it is gratifying

Introduction

X

when

people who

have taken such a keen interest in a subject take

the logical step of making generations.

their work

available and useful to future

This should be a normal many

people of some

other nations in the possession of a sense of obligation

what

true that the number

any notable contribution

their own

behind

might be called public teaching collections.

speaking, it is unhappily made

are still a generation

but

unfortunately

towards

Canadians

point of view in Canada,

museums

toward

of Canadians

the growth

the

Generally who have

and extension

of

is still very small.

The appearance of Mr. Stevens’ book could not be better timed. The rapidly rising interest of Canadians in their own national past is directing a floodlight of popular attention upon anything Canadian. Canadian

This has found

expression in the comparative

art objects recently sold.

about a hundred fine example

of early Quebec

values of

A Krieghoff painting of Canada

years ago recently fetched $23,500.

cost of good specimens

distinctively

A remarkably

pine furniture sold for $5,000, and the

of early Canadian

silver is often well into four

figures. Books and documents bearing upon Canada’s history have become very costly. Most book dealers consider Canadiana an important Canada

part of their business, and there are a number

who specialize in it to the exclusion of everything

these realms The

of collecting the demand

is greater than

fact that a particular kind of Canadian

museum

usually has a rapid effect upon

emphasizes

of dealers in else.

the supply.

craft is displayed

values, and a museum

the desirability and importance

In all

of some

in a

which

early Canadian

handicraft can expect to find itself priced out of the buying field in a few years.

It should not be supposed

that Canada’s

attainments

in the arts

Introduction

xi

are all in the distant past; such is not the case. ditional Quebec in abeyance

arts of silversmithing and wood-carving

for the moment,

the Province

schools of furniture designing and making also craftsmen

working

of pottery, however, recent years.

and arrangements

of the largest It is in the field

that the greatest progress has been

were made

tion to other Canadian

are apparently

has one

in silver, gold, and jewellery.

at The

the tra¬

in the world, and there are

The second of the Canadian

national scale opened

an adequate

Although

Ceramic

Royal Ontario

made

Exhibitions

Museum

in

on a

early in 1957,

to send the best pieces from the exhibi¬

cities on tour.

It is hoped that we may

and creditable representation

of Canadian

have

Ceramics

at

the Brussels World’s Fair, and at the accompanying International Exhibition of Modern Ceramics at Ostend, both in July, 1958. Vitreous

enamels

are also being made.

cultural renaissance

The

one gap in Canada’s

appears to be in the field of artistic glass-making,

and it is possible that there is not a single studio working glass in the whole

of Canada.

in decorative

It is probable, however,

bringing energy, initiative, and a certain measure the field of decorative glass would

that anyone

of artistic talent to

find himself famous

within a year.

This is a challenge to the ambitious, and one hopes it will find an early acceptance. To familiarize Canadians fathers have important Quebec Canadian

accomplished

of the present day with what their fore¬

in the applied arts, has always

function and object of The

Gallery

of the Museum

Royal Ontario

contains

gallery there are many

silver. The John Langdon

Museum.

The

a collection of French-

furniture extending over about two hundred

and in the same

been an

fine specimens

and fifty years, of early Quebec

Collection of early Canadian

silver flat-

xii

Introduction

ware covers completely

the period from 1700 to 1850, and constitutes

the finest representation

of the subject in any

furniture is well represented by many

museum.

fine specimens

Ontario

of the “Ontario

Georgian” type, usually executed in cherry and curly and bird’s eye maple. This Ontario furniture in light woods is of great interest, the designs being simplified forms of George the dignity and sometimes Sigmund

Samuel

IV styles, retaining however

the classic form of their prototypes.

Canadiana

The

Gallery, a detached gallery of The Royal

Ontario Museum at 14 Queen’s Park Crescent West, possesses a superb collection of prints, portraits, topographical water-colours and oil paintings, maps,

medals

and paper money,

history of Canada.

Exhibitions

are changed

illustrating the entire three times yearly and

special facilities are granted to students. Mr. Stevens

has done

a splendid piece of cultural spade-work.

It is to be hoped that he will continue to do it, and that the work be taken up by others.

The history of Canada

contains much

proud of, yet it will be a long time before Canadian manufactures mented.

become

sufficiently well-known,

One hopes that The Canadian

of books on related subjects, making

will to be

arts, crafts and

described

and

docu¬

Collector will be one of a series

it plain to the Canadian

of today

that the past has been a long flight of steps, and that the present has a high level of achievement The

to start from.

integration of a unified national consciousness,

a Canadian

sense of identity, is taking place rapidly, and is causing comment

both

admiring

lady

and

critical. “Canadians?”

said a brisk American

recently. “They are getting too big for their clothes!” Quite true and well said, but then the clothes have always been too small. F. St. George

Spendlove.

CONTENTS CHAPTER

Introduction

1

Early Canadian

by F. St. George Spendlove

V. The VI. The

Glass

Hamilton

Glass

Maker

Works Glass

St. Lawrence

Works

Glass

2M

I

Canadian

China

6 ....

Works

12

.... .

.

.

.15 17

and Pottery

allo ry o wn I. t Staffordshire Canadian Views Glas s H ouseand Pottery II. Canadian China .

Canadian

12

Glass Maker, .

23

.... .

.

.

. TheIII. A Check List of Early Canadian Potters . Glass Facto ries 4 of th e Sei gnior 5 Canadian Cabinetmakers y of

4

9

.

VII. John Herring of Napanee: Founder and Builder

.

3

.

C. Spence:

IV. St. Johns

vii

Glass

Vaudreuil III. John

PACE

Gunsmiths

23 .37 .

43

49 77 99

Bibliography

xiii

LIST

OF

ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE

No.

1. Sugar Bowl and Cover: Deep aquamarine. Made at Mallorytown Glass House (Circa 1825) .......

ii

2. Pitcher: Deep aquamarine; applied handle; threaded neck; super¬ imposed decoration of a lily-pad type. Made at Mallorytown Glass House (Circa 1825) ........

7

3. {In background ) Flask, Tumbler, Vase. Made at Mallorytown. {In foreground) Shards of Fire Pots; chunk of Raw Glass (deep aquamarine) ; and Shards of Glass; all excavated at the site of the Mallorytown Glass House ........

10

4. Four Vigil Lights, attributed to the Canada Stained & Ornamental Glass Works (John C. Spence) Montreal. Colours: deep blue, pale amber, deep blue, olive, green {Circa 1855). (Centre ) Lamp: deep amber; applied handle; ribbed pattern. Made at the Canada Glass Works, Hudson (Vaudreuil) {Circa 1870) ....

10

5. Four Mercury Glass Candle Sticks, and a Free Blown Druggist’s Jar, having a pressed cover, and decorated with applied rings. All made at the Napanee Glass Factory (John Herring) {Circa 1882)

20

No.

6. Historical China: “Indian Scene on the St. Lawrence” (Lake Series). By Francis Morley & Co. ......

25

No.

7. Historical China: “Georgeville” (Eastern Townships). (Lake Series). By Francis Morley & Co. ......

25

No.

8. Historical China: “Rideau Canal, Bytown” (Ottawa). (Lake Series). By Francis Morley & Co. ......

26

No.

No.

No.

No.

No.

9. Mark

usually found on reverse of Canadian views manufactured by Francis Morley & Co. Important because many pieces are otherwise unmarked ......... XIV

26

xv List of Illustrations PAGE

No.

No.

10.

Historical China: “Village of Cedars” (Lake Series). By Francis Morley & Co. ..........

28

11.

Historical China: “Church at Point Levi” (Lake Series). By Francis Morley & Co. ........

28

29

No.

12.

Historical China: “Chaudiere Bridge” (Lake Series). By Francis Morley & Co. ..........

No.

13.

Historical

China:

No.

14.

Historical

China:

“Quebec.”

By

Podmore,

No.

15.

Historical

China:

“Quebec.”

By

Enoch

No.

16.

Mark usually found on reverse of pieces manufactured by Enoch Wood & Sons. Titles vary according to view shown on face of piece ............

33

33

“Village of Cedars.”

By T. Godwin Walker

Wood

&

&

.

.

29

Co.

.

31

.

31

Sons

.

No.

17.

Historical China: “Commodore MacDonnough’s Victory.” By Enoch Wood & Sons .........

No.

18.

Historical

China:

No.

19.

Historical

China:

No.

20.

Historical & Son

China: “Shannon and Chesapeake .” By John Rogers ...........

36

No.

21.

Historical

China:

38

“Montreal.” “Quebec.”

By

Davenport

(Unknown

“ Shannon ” (Frigate).

&

Co.

maker).

By John By

.

.

...

Rogers

& Son

Joseph

Heath

No. 22.

Historical China: “Ontario Lake Scenery.” & Co .

No.

23.

Pitcher of the “Rockingham” type manufactured by G. H. Farrar, at St. Johns, Quebec. .........

No.

24.

Specimen of the “Ironstone” tablewares manufactured Farrar . . . . ■ • • ■

34 35

38

40

by G. H. • .41

XVI

List of Illustrations PAGE

No. 25.

No. 26.

Reproduction of Mark used by the St. Johns Farrar) ......

Pottery

(G. H.

41

Nineteenth-century Canadian Stoneware. (In Backgro und ) Milk Bowl with lip, attributed to White, Hamley & Co., Brockville, Ont. Bowl,

Crock, made by Flack and Van Arsdale, Cornwall, Ont’ attributed to J. E. Dalkin & Co., Cap Rouge. (In Fore¬ ground) Ginger Beer Bottle, attributed to White, Hamley & Co., Brockville, Ont. Bird Whistle, excavated at the site of the Erastus Duloe Pottery, Aultsville, Ont. Jug, attributed to White, Hamley & Co., Brockville, Ont. . .

No. 27.

Cupboard

No. 28.

Chair.

No. 29.

Commode.

(Bahut)

Birch

of birch.

and

curly maple.

Maple.

Armchair.

No. 31.

Drop-leaf Table. Curly century ....

Birch.

Chest

No. 33.

Cupboard. Curly teenth centu ry

French-Canadian,

and Miniature

maple.

Chest.

maple

and

Louis

French-Canadian,

French-Canadian,

No. 30.

No. 32.

French-Canadian,

Upper

51

XIII

Louis

42

XIII

Louis XV

52 53 55

Louis XV

Upper

Canada,

Canada,

butternut.

nineteenth

nineteenth

Upper

56 57

century

Canada,

nine¬

59 60

No. 34.

Tables: (Left), Curly maple; (Righ Upper Canada, nineteenth century t), Cherry

No. 35.

Bookcase. Curly maple, bird’s eye Upper Canada, nineteenth century maple, butternut,

No. 36.

Chairs. Late Sheraton; Bow back Upper Canada, nineteenth century.

and

curly maple.

and walnut 61

No. 37.

Windsor;

“Country”

type.

“Canadian Regency^’ Chair. Curl y and bird's eye maple. Upper Canada, nineteenth century. Candle Stand. Curl y maple and black oak. Upper Canada, ninet eenth century

62

64

xvii

List of Illustrations

PAGE

No. 38.

Four

No. 39.

Exact reproduction of the Markings shown in illustration No. 38.

No. 40.

typical “Canada”

Rifles

86

. found on the Canada .

Rifles

86

(From top to bottom) : A “Tower” Flintlock Pistol of the eighteenth century. A Pistol of a similar type after having been converted to a percussion.

Nineteenth

century

pistol stamped

“W.

Clayson”

No. 41.

Early Canadian

Knives

No. 42.

Accessories

No. 43.

Depicts the details of the “Scrimshaw” decoration on two Powder Horns. The maps and other markings are relative to the early days of the fur trade .........

87

and Tomahawks

used with muzzle-loading

88 88

.

firearms

....

89

Early Canadian

Glass

Early Canadian

_Lhe literature on early Canadian

Glass

glass consists of only two

pamphlets, both collector’s items. The listing here, therefore, of early Canadian glass houses, operators and workmen, sheds some light on a little known This

book

does

early Canadian not pretend

to be a complete

industry, its products and designs. the Canadian wherever Those who

factories operating

possible the names

who know

survey

of the

It does cover, in a broad outline, in the nineteenth

of owners,

have any information of authentic

industry.

century, giving

operators

about glass workers

pieces of early Canadian

and

workmen.

and designs, or

glass of any type,

will greatly assist in the research on this subject by informing author or the Royal Ontario The shrouded

of many held.

Museum.

glass houses

of the French

in mystery.

Directories and newspapers

century depended names

upon

Accurate

even after 1800.

be of great importance

documentary Indeed

Regime

evidence

remain

of the eighteenth the absence

to research in this

is often lacking up to and

it is not until 1845 that directories provide

sufficient detail to assist in distinguishing articles manufactured

in Canada

paid listings. This often meant

which would

the

in Canada.

3

the particular types of

4

The Canadian

Collector

Search for a specific design used by a silversmith, a pewterer a glass maker, was

not helped by the fact that the cuts used in the

headings of advertisements

were

same

firms.

for several competing

years.

This was

many

usually of a stock type, being the The practice continued

the case in advertisements

vessels, railroads, gunsmiths Thus

and

many

of the pieces attributed

some

of this glass was

It is necessary to determine corresponding

for steam

other

Indeed

it may

originally of Canadian

which

through

operated

Glass

was

located one

the

these methods

House

mile west

to have

been

of the village of

Ontario.

Exhaustive

search of early records, atlases, directories and other

sources of documentary

proof would

indicate that this factory did not

exist.

Nevertheless,

of the

nineteenth

showing

the location of a building along with shards of worked

that this glass house operated century

has

been

established

fire pots and the materials necessary for the making the raw state and in semi- and completely-fused where

and by

used in making

factory, the earliest so far proven

in Canada,

Mallorytown,

manufacture.

visits to museums,

describe the methods

I. Mallorytown GLASS

be doubted

it is attributed.

various types of glass, and provide the dates in which were used.

THIS

sailing

if the glass is of an age and technique

can be obtained

the study of books

and

lines of endeavour.

with that of the glass house to which

This knowledge

for many

in recent years to specific glass

houses could be of doubtful authenticity. whether

or

in the early part by

excavations glass,

of glass, both in

masses, only occurring a glass factory could have been in operation.

Early Canadian

5

Glass

But earlier dates of this glass house have been deduced

from the

writer’s interviews with elderly people who have spent their lives in the Mallorytown district, many of whom are over eighty years of age — including one gentleman of a proven one hundred and three. All these agree that during their lifetimes the location of the factory was

a sod-covered

held showing

no traces whatsoever The writer has signed statements to this effect. This, despite the absence

county

accuracy Canada town

of listings in local records, directories,

histories, etc., tends

established

at an even

to prove

that this glass house

earlier date than

of the listings of all types after 1845, and the absence

down

hitherto estimated.

of establishments

of any mention

works, suggests that 1825 would

history, orally handed

of buildings.

The

in Upper

of the Mallory¬

be a safe assumption.

in the Guild

was

Family

family of Mallorytown,

indicates that this glass house was a total ruin in 1831. Products

of the Mallorytown

glass excavated

Glass House:

From

pieces of worked

at the site of this glass house, and from oral descrip¬

tions of pieces said to have been in the possession of the descendants of the United

Empire

Loyalists who

founded

the village of Mallory¬

town, it has been established that the commercial glass works

consisted of bottles.

manufactured

output of the local

This was the type of wares

usually

at that period.

As was the custom

of the times, however,

at the end of the working

period, make

the glass blowers would,

drinking glasses, vases, witch

balls, pitchers, flasks, sugar and other types of bowls, and various pieces for use in and about their homes. Pieces of this classification, authenticated at the Mallorytown

as having been made

works, consist of a sugar bowl, a flask, a vase,

6

The Canadian

a tumbler, and a pitcher. concerning imposed

The latter confirms a much

this particular glass house.

decoration

described

Collector

discussed point

The pitcher has the super¬

as lily-pad, and

also a superimposed

spiral thread of glass winding about the neck, known as “threading.” All of this glass so far authenticated is of a brilliant aquamarine colour.

Not one of the shards examined

by the writer and a number

of experts indicates that the Mallorytown moulds.

All pieces examined

Although

much

several worked

In many

of the

of the slag and worked

the site are of the aquamarine

manufactured

are

workmen

free-blown

pieces suggest that a secondary

technique. at

of the slag and

colour of glass was

This needs further investigation.

cases the colours of the glass made

in the early glass

houses resulted from the types of local materials used. of the Mallorytown

use of

pieces of glass excavated

colour, a lesser amount

for a short period.

made

works, the aquamarine

In the case

colour was caused

by the

ores occurring in a vein of quartz located within a very short distance of the glass works, and which

was found

to have been used by the

glass makers.

II. The

Glass

EVIDENCE confusing.

Factories

of the Seigniory

of Vaudreuil

of the existence of these glass houses

is slightly

The first listings found by the writer are contained

in an

1857 directory. This directory lists, “Ottawa Glass Works, C.E. [Canada East Quebec]. A village in the Seigniory of Vaudreuil. A large business is carried on here in the manufacture

Further

on in the same

British American

of glass.”

directory (in the v’s) we find listed the Glass Works, Henry W. Jones & Co., proprietors,

at Pointe a Cavagnol,

Vaudreuil, C.E.”

No. 2. Pitcher: Deep aquamarine; applied handle; threaded neck; superimposed decoration of a lily-pad type. Made at Mallorytown Glass House (Circa 1825).

8

The Canadian

Collector

Apparently we have two glass houses; but Harper's Statistical Gazetteer, published in the same year, lists only one glass house, and this under

“Vaudreuil

County.”

Further

confusion

find in John Lovell’s Chronology of Montreal 1893 (and covering the period 1752-1925)

arises when

and Canada

we

for the year

that: “Desbarats

& Derbi-

shire start a glass factory at Vaudreuil, A.D. 1847,” and also: “The Montreal Glass Co., at Hudson, makes chimneys, bottles and insulators, A.D. 1866.” The problem is solved when, in an 1871 directory, we find listed, “Canada

Glass Works

Co., Ltd., Hudson.

Pointe a Cavagnol.” Thus we find that the Vaudreuil

Hudson

formerly called

referred to is the county

and

not the village, and that “Ottawa Glass Works, C.E.” was a postal address used by the glass works established by Desbarats & Derbishire in 1847 because of its distance from the village of Vaudreuil; that the “British American Cavagnol,

Vaudreuil,

Glass Works,

Henry

C.E.,” is an inaccuracy

compiler of the directory in the use of “Pointe

A further confirmation North America,

is found

further,

W. Jones, Pointe a on

the part of the

a Cavagnol.”

in Lovell’s Gazetteer of British

for the year 1874, which

Cavagnol. It contains a glass factory.” The conclusions to be reached about

lists — “Hudson,

the Vaudreuil

or Pointe a

glass houses

are that there was only one glass house, but that this was operated under several managements, the earliest being that of Desbarats & Derbishire; that it was Canada’s

second earliest glass works (and this is of importance) ; that the glass houses listed in Harper's Statistical Gazetteer, for the year 1855, include the Northern New York State factories of Redwood

and

Redford,

as well as the British American

Early Canadian

Glass Works. County

Glass

9

This establishes that, at that period, the Vaudreuil

glass house was

a contemporary

of the Northern

State glass houses and therefore of great importance The various names

Research

several Hudson themselves.

technique The

From

Apparently termed

amber

was

blown-moulded

The

Canada

III. j ohn OUTSTANDING

made

by the earlier

colour, and

used for making

the

these wares.

to the 1847 period that was

into a swirl pattern.

is of the 1860 period.

insulators.” the list.

were

favourite

was

similar type

Glass Co. was

a

attributed

glass blown-moulded

the Montreal

at the

vicinity — it has been deter¬

types of tableware

Later, a somewhat technique

manufactured

various sources — persons digging for proof of the

writer has seen a lamp

of amber

1847 1855 1866 1871

glass houses is as confusing as is that on the factories

that various

factories.

historically.

circa circa circa circa

on the types of wares

site, and people living in the immediate mined

York

and dates of this glass house were:

Ottawa Glass Works . British American Glass Works . Montreal Glass Company . Canada Glass Works Co. Ltd . Products:

New

of lamp

By 1866 we know

manufacturing

Glass Works

C. Spence:

among

was

but the

(Chronology ) that

“chimneys,

added

Glass

made,

bottles and

a preserving

jar to

Maker

early Canadian

glass makers

was

John C. Spence of Montreal. In 1855 we find that the “Canada Stained and Ornamental Glass Works, John C. Spence, Notre Dame

No. 3. Shards

(In background) of

Fire

Pots;

Flask, Tumbler,

chunk

of Raw

Vase. Made

Glass

(deep

at Mallorytown.

aquamarine);

all excavated at the site of the Mallorytown

and

(In foreground)

Shards

Glass House.

of

Glass;

No. 4. Four Vigil Lights, attributed to the Canada Stained & Ornamental Glass Works (John C. Spence) Montreal. Colours: deep blue, pale amber, deep blue, olive, green. (Circa

1855).

(Centre ) Lamp:

the Canada

deep

amber;

Glass Works,

applied

Hudson

handle;

(Vaudreuil)

ribbed

pattern.

(Circa 1870).

Made

at

Early Canadian

St., Montreal, embossed,

11

Glass

manufactures

every description of stained, painted,

cut and figured enamelled

glass, druggists’ show jars with

glass labels, etc.” The advertisement further lists glass in various colours. This suggests that Mr. Spence was a craftsman of various talents.

He

was

among

exhibit their products

the many

Canadian

at the Universal

Paris, and was represented

craftsmen

Exhibition

selected to

of 1855, held in

in two categories, class eighteen and class

twenty-four. Class Eighteen No. 327, Spence

(Glass and Pottery) contains one entry, that of

(J. C.), Montreal,

Class Twenty-four No. 354, Spence

(Furniture

(J. C.), Montreal,

Lower and

Canada:

‘‘Stained Glass.”

Decoration,

Lower

Canada:

Section 4) lists “Work

Table

of

Glass, Painted and Gilded.” Apparently the table was of out¬ standing importance as it was later sent to Sydenham Palace, Eng¬ land, where, with other pieces, it helped to form permanent

Canadiana

The Canada every

exhibit.

Stained and Ornamental

type of coloured

steamboat

the nucleus of a

Glass Works

manufactured

glass: stained glass; glass for railway and

signals; hollow and solid lenses; bent hand

lamp glasses;

glass signs; druggists’ show jars with coats of arms; tablets and glass labels. Mr. Spence

made

a specialty of glass for churches.

has been very fortunate in acquiring a number have

been made

“about

The

writer

of vigil lights, said to

1850, in a glass works

on Notre

Dame,

in

Montreal.” These vigil lights were of a type used in vast numbers in the Catholic churches of the period; they can be accepted as having been made

in this Canadian

glass house.

Several of these lights are ot a plain bulbous

design, and have a

12

The Canadian

flattened rim at right angles to the body of the piece.

Collector

Others are of a

ribbed pattern and have a folded rim.

were

Also in the writer’s collection are two stained glass vases which made at the Canada Glass Works. They are of a clear glass

stained a ruby colour. Directories show moved dropped

that, over a period of years, Mr. J. C. Spence

his establishment the manufacture

sources in Montreal, windows

several times.

after 1871, he

of glass which could be obtained

and continued

from other

as a specialist in glass for church

and the coloured door lights so typical of that era.

IV. St. Johns ALSO

Eventually,

OPERATING

Glass

Works

in the year 1855 were two Canadian

houses about which very little is as yet known. located in St. Johns, Lower

Canada

glass

The first of these was

(Quebec), and was owned

by the

Foster Bros., Glass Manufacturers.

The

second glass house was located in Toronto,

Upper

Canada

(Ontario), and was situated on “Niagara, near Tecumseh Street.” It is to be hoped that some one may have information concerning these “lost” Canadian glass houses and will have the great kindness to relay this knowledge to the writer or to the Royal Ontario Museum.

V. The

THROUGH

THE

Hamilton

Works

years research becomes

findings, and directories, etc., become of workmen’s

Glass

occupations.

more

In the case

more

accurate

in its

detailed in their listings of the

Hamilton

Glass

13 Early Canadian

Glass

Works, we cannot only list many of this firm’s commercial products, but also discover the names and house addresses of the glass blowers employed. As early as 1865 we find the advertisements Hamilton Works

Glass Works.

“manufactures

advertisement

Glassware.” Associated L. Moore

all kinds

of druggist’s

glassware.”

and

the shareholders

with

adds: “Bottle Manufacturers, the

firm were

L. H. Brooks. and mould

These

Geo.

The

to order.”

Flint and Green

Rutherford,

gentlemen

Glass

of every descrip¬

[is] made

to order, and other press work

advertisement

& Co.,

In 1869 we learn that the Hamilton

further states, that “private moulds

tion [are] made Another

of Rutherford

J. Winer,

were, presumably,

designers, as the glass blowers are listed

as such. The following glass blowers worked

for the Hamilton

glass house

during the early period of its operation: Joseph Charlton Peter Menard Francis Mitchell William Mitchell David Pancost

The

Samuel Pancost David Reed James

Stevenson

John Voll

actual dates of the periods of operation

of the Hamilton

glass house were as follows: 1865-66) Hamilton Glass Works 1 868-69 / and Warren Streets

1871 72/ Hamilton

Glass Works,

(Gatchell, Moore

309 Hughson

& Co.), Hughson

Street North

14

The Canadian

1872-731 Hamilton Glass Works 1874 / son Street North

(Geo. Rutherford

1875-7 6\ Hamilton Glass Works (Rutherford 1877 / and Macaulay Streets

9 1

Hamilton

1

, -852-876-88 1881188188 1888

Glass Works

Moore,

(G. Rutherford,

vice-president and managing

Glass Works,

Hamilton Glass Street North Diamond

Hughson

Co. (Diamond

president; Lyman director)

Street North

Glass

Co., Ltd.), James

Glass Co. Ltd. (Hamilton

Glass Works)

Diamond Glass Co. Ltd. (Hamilton H. H. Lloyd, manager)

Glass Works,

After this date, the Hamilton the Diamond

Glass Co., Ltd.

Glass Works

Ont., the Diamond

Products:

The

works,

and other branches

to form the Dominion

wording “Private

became

Glass Co. of Wallaceburg,

Flint Glass Co. of Montreal,

Glass Co. of Toronto, Co., amalgamated

apparently

In 1913, this firm, along with several

other glass houses, including the Sydenham

Hamilton

& Co.), cor. Hughson

(L. H. Brooks, manager)

Glass Works

Hamilton

1894-95

& Co.), 305 Hugh-

Hamilton Glass Works (Rutherford & Co., L. H. Brooks, manager), Hughson and Macaulay Streets

Hamilton

1893-94

Collector

of the moulds

the Beaver

of the Diamond

Flint

Flint Glass

Glass Co. Limited.

advertisements of every

used

description

by made

the to

Early Canadian

15

Glass

order,

establishes

capable

of designing

that

the earlier Canadian

and

“Bottles, Flint and Green

making

their own

Glassware,

Moulded

Jars” were products of this glass house. “green” referred to the bottles.

VI. The

St. Lawrence

We

Glass

glass houses moulds.

Wares may

Also

were that

and Druggist’s assume

that the

Works

A REPORT published in 1868, entitled “Statements relating to Trade, Navigation, Mining, etc., etc., etc., of the Dominion of Canada, and Annual Report on the Commerce of Montreal, for 1867,” is most helpful to anyone interested in data relative to that era. In the section listing “Glass and Glass-Works” are to be found statistics dealing with both imported and domestic glasswares. The

following excerpts suggest

of that period, although

that the Canadian

few in number,

insignificant output for home

were

glass houses

producing

a far from

consumption:

“The manufacture of Glassware in Canada during the past two years has reduced the imported article from 50 per cent in the average of the five years (1853-1857) above mentioned, to 41.26 per cent in 1865-1866. . . . The opinion has been expressed that the consump¬ tion of all kinds of Glass and Glassware by the population of the Dominion

(nearly 4,000,000) would

give employment

to twenty-five

glass furnaces — in producing the multitudinous articles now in daily use among all classes. . . . The constituents of Green Glass (except Soda- Ash, which would have to be imported) are abundant; and all the requisites for the production of Flint Glass may be said to be at hand.

. . .”

“Glass Works. — There Glass Works

at Hamilton,

are no particulars at hand in Ontario.”

respecting the

16

have

The Canadian

Collector

“The Canada Glass Co.’s Works at Hudson, Province of Quebec, been established for several years. The operations, which at

first were limited to the manufacture of Druggist’s Bottles, Telegraph Insulators, etc., have been recently much extended. . . .” “The St. Lawrence Glass Company have established their extensive works in the City of Montreal for the manufacture of Flint Glass. Operations were commenced in the Fall of 1867; it is not, therefore, possible to do more in this notice than to say that they have been projected on a scale abundantly large to meet the growing wants of the Dominion — that they are adapted to produce the finest kinds of pressed and cut Flint Glassware — and that under its enterprising directors and managers, the works are likely to be profitable as a pecuniary investment, while in every respect they will be creditable to the manufacturing

skill and enterprise of Canada.”

The special Montreal

section of the Province of Ontario Gazetteer

for the year 1869, published

by Robertson

& Cook,

Toronto,

lists

(page 626): “St. Lawrence Glass Co., — A. McK. Cochrane, Secty.” No further information is contained in that publication but this Montreal

establishment

“St. Lawrence

is listed in the Dominion

Glass Works,

Enoch

Egginston,

Directory of 1871 as Supt.,” with works

situated in “Coteau St. Augustin.” (This was a suburb of Montreal.) It was a sizeable undertaking and employed the following workmen, all of whom

lived in Coteau

St. Augustin:

William H. Grace, Glass Moulder James H. Moore, Glass Finisher Richard Davis, Glass Blower J. H. Coley, Glass Blower Patrick Herbert, Glass Blower Thomas Jones, Glass Blower George McCanal, Glass Blower John Perkes, Glass Blower Robert Squire, Glass Blower

Early Canadian

17

Glass

This glass house

produced

mainly

window

glass, but various

other types of glass have been traced to it. Canadian made,

as did the St. Lawrence

glass houses

works, telegraph insulators, lamps,

globes and, of course, druggists’ jars; also, to some degree — this varied with different glass houses — bottles of a larger type in which to store kerosene, vinegar, spirits and other liquids, including acids.

VII. John

Herring

of Napanee:

Glass

Maker,

Founder

and

Builder

JOHN came

HERRING

to Canada

Napanee,

where

(1818-1898)

was

typical of his times.

in 1841, settled in Kingston, and from there moved he established a foundry

facture of stoves, plows and

and engaged

to

in the manu¬

agricultural machinery.

noted as a contractor, and built schools and houses. made

He

He

was

also

In addition he

potash and bricks, and was one of the principal stockholders

the Napanee Canada

Paper Co. in the last half of the nineteenth

industrialized, and it was due to men

century

of glass still retained some

brought Canadian

of the romance

for centuries, and, although

heartbreak

and

poverty

glass and the lure of new

was becoming

of the calibre of John Herring

that she began to gain a foothold in world markets.

surrounded

in

with which

it was

to many ventures

The manufacture it had been

a business which

investors, the need induced

had for

Mr. Herring to

establish a glass factory. The principal product of the Napanee 1881, was to be window

Glass Factory, opened

in

glass. John Herring was not himself trained

18

The Canadian

Collector

in the arts of -glass making, and he therefore imported a number of glass blowers from Europe and workmen from the United States. Considerable countries.

friction arose between

Apparently

earlier techniques

which

the European were

Due

preferred

to mass

the

production,

of various types of glass wares

other

glass.

to lack of co-operation

the Napanee

Glass

Works

between

management

closed its doors

in the field of Canadian

and workmen

in 1883.

existence for a short period only, the Napanee mark

of the different

glass glowers

not conducive

and this led to the manufacture than window

the craftsmen

Though

in

factory left a definite

glass, producing

window

glass, glass

globes, druggists’ jars, and whimseys. Any

authentic

product

of an early glass house

But to the collector the whimsey, workmen The

is interesting.

or any special piece made

by the

for their families or friends, would

be of special importance. writer feels that either of these classifications could be used for

the “mercury glass” candlesticks known to have been made at the Napanee Glass Works, even though they have been found in sufficient numbers

(so far six have been discovered) to warrant

that they were

a commercial

sticks are worthy

of study.

product. They

In any

bases.

The

basic glass is clear.

case, these candle¬

vary between

inches in height, with three-and-three-quarter The

the conclusion

eight and

eleven

to four-and-a-half-inch

bases and

baluster-shaped stems have an inner coating of mercury, and therefore appear to be silvered. The socket into which the candle fitted was left free of mercury. The outer rim is serrated and the under side is decorated with a moulded socket and

Roman

Key

pattern.

The

size and

shape of the

rim are such that they suggest the use of a cup

plate

Early Canadian

mould.

The

a combination Much Works

19

Glass

complete

piece is quite typical of the times, and shows

of the free blown

and moulded

of the preceding information

techniques.

concerning the Napanee

was supplied the author by the late Mrs. Lome

glass collection included all of which

three of the candlesticks

Glass

Pierce, whose

and a glass cane,

Mrs. Pierce had, after careful investigation, authenticated

as being products of the glass house owned

by John Herring.

No. 5. Four Mercury Glass Candle Sticks, and a Free Blown Druggist's Jar, having a pressed cover, and decorated with applied rings. All made at the Napanee Glass Factory [John Herring], (Circa 1882).

Canadian

China

and Pottery

Canadian

I. Staffordshire

During Staffordshire, decorated

China and Pottery

Canadian

Views

the first half of the nineteenth

century the potteries of

England,

and

with

made

Canadian

table china

scenes, intended

other

for export

china

ware

to Canada.

This is generally referred to as Historical China. The method

used for decorating the pieces was somewhat

similar

to the “transfers” used today, which allow a coloured scene to be transferred (by wetting and other methods) to a new material or object.

The

central view

was

usually achieved

by use of a single

“transfer” but the borders in many cases were comprised of several sections. These borders are worthy of study for the potters never seemed

to duplicate the border decorations, although

known

to have

since many decoration

used similar views as the main

of the pieces are unmarked is the only means

credited with a specific item. the person examining by various potters.

a number

decoration.

Indeed

as to origin, the border

of establishing which

potter can be

That, of course, depends

upon whether

a piece knows

which

border designs were

This does not apply in the case of many

of sugar bowls, pitchers, and is omitted.

are.

other pieces where

the border

used types

design

24

The Canadian The

one

Canadian,

certain

American

prints, drawings, thought

method

of determining

or European

paintings and

whether

is to check

engravings

a view

the view

views

were

taken

relating to the country

from

In many

Canadian

Scenery,

a one- or two-volume

work published by N. P. Willis, London and illustrated by W. H. Bartlett.

If any view should be found which

is

with early

to be the inspiration of that particular scene.

instances the Canadian

Collector

(1842),

is not listed in this chapter,

and

it is thought to be Canadian, it is suggested that Canadian Scenery should be carefully studied to discover whether that work

is the source material of the view.

If not, it is a question of any or all early prints, paintings and engravings.

Each

of the listed views

engraving,

herewith

print, etc., from which

is named

the view was

either from

taken

or from

the the

title that, along with British registry marks, potters’ marks, etc., has been found on one or more pieces. Francis

are known known

Morley

as the “Lake

used

Series.”

a number

The

to be relative to the Canadian

potteries was Canadian The corner

& Co.

miniature

of Canadian

source

views

material

which

of all views

scene and produced

by these

Scenery.

platter (illustration No. 6) shows

of plate 91, vol. 2, entitled “Indian

Scene

the lower left on

the St.

Lawrence.”

“Georgeville” (Eastern Townships), plate 8, vol. 1, Canadi an Scenery, is the source material for illustration No. 7. This shows a plate decorated with the Georgeville view. Rideau Canal, Bytown” (Ottawa) is shown on illustration No. 8. The source material was plate 7B, vol. 2, Canadian Scenery.

No. 6. Historical

China: “Indian Scene on the St. Lawrence’’ Series). By Francis Morley 8c Co.

(Lake

No. 7. Historical

China: “Georgeville” (Eastern Townships). Series). By Francis Morley 8c Co.

(Lake

No. 8. Historical China: “Rideau Canal, Bytown” (Lake Series) by Francis Morley & Co.

(Ottawa).

No. 9. Mark usually found on reverse of Canadian views manu¬ factured by Francis Morley & Co. Important because many pieces are otherwise unmarked.

27 Canadian

China and Pottery

Illustration No. 9 shows of wares manufactured Canadian scenes.

the mark

by Francis

usually found on the reverse

Morley

&

Co., decorated

with

Plate 112, vol. 1, Canadian Scenery, entitled “Village of Cedars,” is source material for the view of the sugar bowl, illustration No. 10. The cover of the sugar bowl has the Georgeville view as a decoration. The

use of two or more

views on sugar bowls, vegetable dishes, etc.,

particularly pieces having covers, is quite typical of the methods to decorate the Historical China. Plate 8C, vol. 2, of Canadian

Scenery, entitled “Church

used

at Point

Levi,” is source material for illustration No. 11. Illustration No. 12, entitled “Chaudiere by plate 119, vol. 1, of Canadian Scenery. importance

to the Lake

Series, as the bridge shown

portion of the scene is the mark Canadian

Bridge,” was inspired This view is of some

pieces manufactured

in the central

usually found on the reverse of the by Francis Morley

& Co.

“Hallowed, Bay of Quinte,” is another of the views used by this firm. The title, as well as the view, were taken from plate 104, vol. 1, Canadian

Scenery.

The preceding list covers all Canadian been produced

at the Francis

Morley

possible that in time additional

views so far known

& Co. potteries.

Canadian

views

to have

It is quite

used by this firm

will be discovered. T. Godwin

was

another

of the Staffordshire potters producing

the Canadian views. Illustration No. 13 shows “Village of Cedars,” which view has been shown (illustration No. 10) as having been used by Francis Morley

& Co.

This illustration indicates the importance

No. 10. Historical No. 11. Historical

China: "Village of Cedars” & Co. By Francis Morley

(Lake Series).

China: "Church at Point Levi” (Lake Series). By Francis Morley & Co.

No. 12. No. 13.

Historical Historical

China: “Chaudiere Bridge” (Lake Series). By Francis Morley & Co. China:

“Village of Cedars.”

By T. Godwin.

30

The Canadian

of the border designs for, other than similar to No. 10. T. Godwin decoration Lake

also used plate 17, vol. 2, Canadian

of table wares.

Memphremagog,”

Ridgway,

Morley

Podmore,

views.

the border, the view

also, during the same

is very

Scenery, for the

This view, the title of which

was

Collector

is "Outlet of

period, used by

& Wear.

Walker

&

Co.

manufactured

Illustration No. 14 shows

a

series

of Canadian

one of the transfers used by this

firm, and was inspired by plate 96, vol. 1, of Canadian

Scenery.

The

title of this view is "Quebec,” and anyone checking illustration No. 14 with the plate from which it was taken finds that, as was usual, the potter added

to, or took away

from

the original, possibly to claim

originality.

In the case of this "Quebec” potter omitted a wharf in the immediate

view it is found

that the

foreground,

added

and

a

mountain

range and a distant row of buildings from plate 49, vol. 1,

Canadian

Scenery, listed as "Quebec

from the Opposite

Shore of the

St. Lawrence.” The potter also added a group of four figures, the central one of which — a soldier — is taken from plate 52, vol. 1, entitled "The

Plains of Abraham,

There are four other Canadian o Podmore,

Walker

additional

views known

& Co., one of which

source to illustration No. The

near Quebec.”

views

1, "Indian

plate 50, vol, 2, Canadian

is similar in decoration

Scene

are: "Kingston,

and

on the St. Lawerence.”

Lake

Scenery, "Montreal,”

vol. 1, Canadian Scenery; and "Navy vol. 1, Canadian Scenery.

to have been used bv

Ontario,”

inspired by

inspired by plate 114,

Island,” inspired by plate 90,

Incidentally, illustration No. 14, showing the Quebec and pitcher, is of an hitherto unlisted item in this series.

wash

bowl

No. 14. No. 15.

Historical Historical

China: China:

“Quebec.” “Quebec.”

By Podmore, By Enoch

Walker

Wood

& Co

8c Sons.

32

The Canadian Enoch

Wood

&

Sons:

Illustration

No.

view of a very dark blue vegetable dish made Wood

was

one of the most

important

15

shows

by Enoch

manufacturers

Collector

the

interior

Wood

& Sons.

of Historical

China. The cover of this piece has a large rose-shaped finial, and is decorated with three American views. This dish is titled on the reverse “Quebec,” and the view shows the citadel of Quebec as it was in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The remainder of the marks

Source

material

Illustration No. 16 is the reverse of a plate decorated

with the

remains

are similar to illustration No.

16.

uncertain.

view “Fall of Montmorenci near Quebec,” and shows the typical eagle, shield, etc., used as a mark by Wood. The view decorating the face of this plate more

or less corresponds

of plate 50, vol. 1, of Canadian

with the upper left section

Scenery, entitled “Montmorency

Cove, near Quebec.”

When

dealing

impartial, and

with

so illustration No.

relating to Canadian Wood.

This

historical items

view,

17 shows

history which entitled on

one

was

the

must

another

of course

be

of the views

manufactured

by Enoch

face, is “Commodore

Mac-

Donnough’s Victory.” It is a very attractive piece, and shows one of the naval engagements of the War of 1812. The source of this view is unknown

to the author, but it is to be found in American

Historical

Views on Staffordshire China, by Ellouise Baker Larsen, a very worthy publication. Davenport

but the only one

&

Co.

reportedly

used

so far verified is shown

several

Canadian

views,

on illustration No.

18.

This view, entitled “Montreal,” is after an engraving published in Montreal by A. Bourne, and drawn by his associate, R. A. Sproule.

No.

16

Mark usually found on reverse Enoch Wood & Sons. Titles vary

shown No. 1 Historical

China:

of pieces according

manufactured to view

by

on face of piece. “Commodore

By Enoch

Wood

MacDonnough’s

& Sons.

Victory.”

No. 18. Historical

China:

“Montreal.”

By Davenport

& Co.

Canadian

No. 19.

Another scene, is very Simcoe,

Historical

similar to one

used by Davenport study is necessary. Illustration

“Quebec.”

including James

maker).

possibly relative to the Canadian

of the early drawings

titled “The

No.

maker.

(Unknown

Garrison

made

at York.”

has as yet been listed “unknown,”

19

The

lished by R. Short.

known

China:

view by Davenport,

in 1796, and

unknown

35

China and Pottery

and

shows

view

“Quebec”

by Mrs. The

and

manufactured

view

further

by

is quite similar to an engraving

an

pub¬

This view has been credited to several potters, Ralph

Clews.

Be that as it may,

and popular view has been found on various pieces.

this well-

36

The Canadian

Collector

g

No. 20.

Historical

China:

"Shannon

Of great interest to Canadians decorated

as shown

and Chesapeake.”

By John Rogers & Son.

are the various pieces of table ware

in illustration No. 20.

This is entitled “ Shannon

and Chesapeake," and shows the famous naval engagement which occurred during the War of 1812. The source of this view could be one

of several engravings.

platters of a larger size.

This scene has usually been

found

on

Canadian

China and Pottery

37 Illustration No.

21 shows

what

must

originally have

scene used on the plates which accompanied

All pieces so far

series, and having the large sea shell border, are

found in the Shannon

Jones

&

china known

& Son.

Rogers

to John

attributed

Death

the previously mentioned

This is a view of the frigate Shannon.

platters.

Son

were

the

manufacturers

as “British History.”

of Wolfe.”

The

group in the famous

source

Among

material

Samuel

painting by Benjamin

Canadiana

Gallery

of a

series

of views

on

these is to be found “The

of this view West.

this painting several times, and examples Sigmund

been the

may

is the central

Mr. West

repeated

be seen at either the

in Toronto

or the Dominion

Archives, Ottawa. Joseph

Heath

&

Co.

were

the

manufacturers

of a

Canadian

view entitled “Ontario Lake Scenery.” The name of the maker is usually found to be impressed, with the title printed under the glaze. Illustration No.

22 shows

a rare wash

with this view.

It is quite possible that the transfer was composed

of various bits taken from a number material is as yet unknown. Canadian

of contemporary

prints.

Source

Scenery as a partial inspiration.

ANY

was

and pitcher decorated

But the right side of the view suggests

II. Canadian

George

bowl

LIST H.

of native

Farrar.

Mr.

Canadian Farrar

one of the few Canadian

well as the stonewares nineteenth

century.

China

made

was

and

Pottery

potters must outstanding

potters to manufacture throughout

be headed in Canada,

table wares

the Dominion

by and

as

during the

No. 21.

No. 22.

Historical China: “Shannon” By John Rogers & Son.

(Frigate).

Historical China: '‘Ontario Lake Scenery.” By Joseph Heath & Co.

Canadian

39

China and Pottery

The earliest listings and advertisements

suggest that G. H. Farrar

was in partnership with others not having the family name. we find the firm of Farrar St. Johns, Lower

Canada

& Soule

listed as potters and located in

(Quebec).

Later, in 1857, a full-page advertisement Directory issued in that year. lists many

In 1851

This shows

items of manufacture,

is found in the Dominion a view of the factory, and

including “Stone

Ware,

Root

&

Ginger Bottles, Snuff Jars, etc.” In 1885 we Agency,

find G. H. Farrar

(Eben)

Farrar.

above

known,

Directory lists: “G. H. (George)

Manufacturers

of Stone

indicates that the St. Johns

continued

in business

for some

various types of wares, almost all of which The

Montreal

28 St. Flenry St., Montreal.

In 1871 the Dominion The

& Co. — Stoneware.

following

were

among

the

and

Rockingham

Pottery,

& L. E. Ware.”

as the firm was

time, and

manufactured

were marked.

master

potters

working

for

Mr. Farrar: David

Benac

Amable

Oliver Deslauriers

Maillet

Jean Gaudette

Alarie Comeau Illustration No. 23 shows manufactured

one of the Rockingham

type pitchers

by G. H. Farrar, at the St. Johns Pottery.

Illustration No. 24 shows

a typical specimen

of Ironstone

made

at St. Johns. Illustration No. 25 reproduces period.

the marks

Later, after Confederation,

used during the earlier

the letters P.Q. were

added. .

No. 23.

Pitcher of the “Rockingham” type manufactured G. H. Farrar, at St. Johns, Quebec.

by

No. 24. No.

25.

Specimen of the “Ironstone" tablewares manufactured by G. H. Farrar.

Reproduction

of Mark

used

by the St. Johns

(G. H. Farrar).

Pottery

42

The Canadian

Collector

No. 26. Nineteenth-century Canadian Stoneware. (In Background) Milk bowl with lip, attributed to White, Hamley 8c Co., Brockville, Ont. Crock, made by Flack and Van Arsdale, Cornwall, Ont. Bowl, attributed to J. E. Dalkin 8c Co., Cap Rouge. (In

Foreground) Bird

Ginger

whistle,

beer

bottle,

excavated at Jug, attributed the to

Illustration No. Canadian stoneware.

attributed

to White,

Hamley

8c Co., Brockville,

Ont.

site of the Erastus Dufoe Pottery, Aultsville,’ White, Hamley & Co., Brockville, Ont.

Ont!

26 shows

a collection of nineteenth-century

During

the latter part of the 1860’s the art of the potter was revived at the little village of Cap Rouge, where an earlier pottery established during the French Regime had operated. We find that the Dominion

Directory for the year 1871 lists an ‘‘extensive” pottery being operated in Cap Rouge by J. E. Dalkin & Co. The company agent was Rainton Philippe, and the master potters were Honore Dumaine

and Onesime

Voyer.

This helps to establish the fact that the location was suitable for potteries.

43 Canadian

China and Pottery

III. A Check

THE

List of Early

Canadian

list shows

the Canadian

FOLLOWING

during the nineteenth bottles, etc.

Upper

century whose and Lower

are listed under their modern 1. Canadian

names

Canada, names,

may

Potters

be found on crocks,

and Canada

Ontario

potters working

West

and Quebec.

Potters Established before 1875

Joseph Adam, St. Clements, Ont. John Anderson, Orangeville, Ont. J. Bailey, Bowmanville, Ont. H. Baker, Thorold, Ont. O. L. Ballard, Cornwall, Ont. Jos. Belanger, Quebec City, Que. Jos. Belanger, St. Denis, Que. John Bennet, Canboro’, Ont. N. Bergeron, La Presentation, Que. A. Bierensteil, Bridgeport, Ont. Peter Blackie, Paris, Ont. X. Bochler, New Hamburg, Ont. V. Bohler, Egmondville, Ont. L. Boivin, Les Eboulements, Que. Geo. Boissonault & Co., Quebec City, Que. Bridden & Booth, Thorold, Ont. J. B. Briere (Bruyere), Yamachiche, Que. H. Brittain, Waverley, Ont. John Britton, Delaware, Ont. Wm. Britton, Wellington Square, Ont. Brown Bros., Weston, Ont. J. & J. Brown, Carlton West, Ont. Wm. Brown, Don, Ont. J. Brownscombe, Welcome, Ont. Wm. Brownscombe, Peterbouro’, Ont. Jas. Bryce, Cannifton, Ont. Wm. Calder, London, Ont. Campbell Bros., Wellington Square, Ont. W. & R. Campbell, Hamilton, Ont. Wm. M. Carlton, Brantford, Ont. Barnet Collins, Streetsville, Ont. B. Collins, Orangeville, Ont. David Collins, Streetsville, Ont.

and East,

44

The Canadian F. Courtemanche, St. Denis, Que. Geo. Cudmore, Don, Ont. Wm. Cullis, Morpeth, Ont. Wm. Culp, Fulton, Ont. G. Curtis & Son, Shakespeare, Ont. J. E. Dalkin & Co., Cap Rouge, Que. A. Darns, St. Eustache, Que. Richard Defoe, Charlesville, Ont. P. Diefenbacher, Bridgeport, Ont. Erastus Dufoe, Aultsville, Ont. Cyrus Eby, Markham, Ont. Wm. & C. Eby, Conestogo, Ont. John Elliott & Bros., Aultsville, Ont. J. & P. Elson, Hyde Park Corners, Ont. Gordon Empey, Charlesville, Ont. Flack & Van Arsdale, Cornwall, G. C. Fowler, Colborne, Ont. O. J. Fowler, Colborne, Ont.

Ont.

Louis Gendreau, St. Denis de Montreal, Que. L. Gendron, St. Gabriel de Brandon, Que. Gillespie & Mace, St. Johns, Que. F. P. Goold, Brantford, Ont. Marcil Guertin, St. Denis de Montreal, Que. John Harvey, Delaware, Ont. C. Hess, Zurich, Ont. W. V. Hollinshead, Dundas, Ont. O. Hornsby, Halifax, N.S. Thos. Humberson, Willowdale, Ont. F. Humberstone, Newton Brook, Ont. Robert

Irwin, Streetsville, Ont.

John Jacoby, Waterloo, Ont. Chas. Jonbert, Ste. Flavie, Que. P. & G. Jonbert, St. Denis, Que. O. Joubert, La Baie, Que. J. & C. Kuehner,

Hanover,

Ont.

Magloire Labelle, St. Eustache, Que. A. Lambert, St. Eugene, Ont. F. Lambert, St. Denis, Que. Jas. Lambert, Beauharnois, Que. J. Lang, Hudson, Que. Cyrus Little, Beamsville, Ont. Chas. Lyons, Lynden, Ont.

Collector

Canadian

45

China and Pottery A. Marlatt, Port Ryerse, Ont. T. Martin, Brantford, Ont. Matteson & Wallace, New Hamburg, Ont. McCaghey & Dolbec, Quebec City, Que. Hugh McClosky, Hornby, Ont. James McClosky, Tara, Ont. James McCloskey, Kilsyth, Ont. Geo. McConnell, Norval, Ont. Thos. McConnell, Aultsville, Ont. C. Mederschein, Quebec City, Que. Jos. Metivier, St. Ours, Que. John Mitchell, Brantford, Ont. Jos. Montigny, Montreal, Que. Hugh & John Mooney, Prescott, Ont. Morton & Bennett, Brantford, Ont. F. Murkley, Inkerman, Ont. John

Fitzroy Harbour,

Ont.

Daniel Orth, Campden, Ont. L. Ouelet, Village des Aulnaies,

Que.

James

Que.

Wm.

Neilson,

Patton Ramsay,

& Co., Montreal, Thorold,

Ont.

J. B. St. George, St. Hyacinthe, Que. Wm. Schwabb, Beamsville, Ont. Jos. Shearsmith, Hamilton, Ont. A. Sheltz, Church Hill, Ont. Chas. Sibley, London, Ont. S. Skinner & Co., Picton, Ont. J. P. Smith, Paris, Ont. Oliver Smith, Brantford, Wm. Wm. Wm.

Ont.

Spence, Hollen, Ont. Spence, Port Ryerse, Ont. Steele, Yamaska, Que,

M. Stumpfle,

Preston, Ont.

P. Tellier, St. Cuthberts,

Que.

Matthew Thompson, St. John, N.B. Isaac Trapier, Beauharnois, Que. A. Wagner, Berlin (Kitchener), R. Wallace, Paris, Ont. Wm. Walmslev, Kilsyth, Ont. John Waltz, Heidelburg, Ont. Warner & Co., Toronto, Ont.

Ont.

Welding

Ont.

& Belding,

Brantford,

46

The Canadian

F

R. Wescott,

.

Peterboro,

Ont.

Ont Londo Moses White house n, Ont. Al,mir Jos. Wide man, a, Jos. Wideman, Stouffville, Ont. Thos. Winfield, Hamilton, Ont. & J. A. Wh ite

, St. John,

2. Canadian

N.B.

Potters Established

after 1875

Ignatz Bitschi, Mildmay, Ont. M. Booth, Thorold, Ont. E. W. Bradwin, Mt. Forest, Ont. Jos. Bradwin, Wingham, Ont. J. H. Burns, Albion, Ont. J. R. Burns, Toronto, Ont. Moses

Curtis, Invermay,

Ont.

John Davis & Son, Davisville Geo. Drake, Beaverton, Ont.

(Toronto),

A. Elliott, Cannifton, Ont. A. Elliott, Russell, Ont. Jos. Elliott, London East, Ont. Sam. Exchenbeger, Delaware, Ont. Gray

& Betts, Tillsonburg,

Hart

Bros. & Lazier, Belleville, Ont.

John Jarvis, Tavistock,

Ont.

Ont.

G. I. Lazier, Picton, Ont. J. Lemon, Owen Sound, Ont.

W. W.

D. Martin, Cataraqui, Ont. McNally & Co., Montreal, Que.

H. Rosenthal,

Toronto,

Ont.

Alex Sinclair, Kilsyth, Ont. Wm.

Taylor,

Beaverton,

Ont.

J. Weber, Egmondville, Ont. White, Hamley & Co., Brockville,

Ont.

Ont.

Collector

Canadian

Cabinetmakers

Ca n adian Cabinetmakers

Ihe splendid native furniture of the French rarity.

is today of exceeding

closely held by the present

French-Canadian

others appointed graciousness

It was

consist of

of the organizations

and

during

the early periods of

were inspired by those prevailing in that the Seigneurs

only natural would

by the King

possible into what

was

are

France.

predominant

cabinetmaking

country.

the mother

in Canada

specimens

in the main,

who,

owners

originally peopled New

basic designs

The

cases authentic

seigneurial descendants

ecclesiastical and families who

In most

Regime

to introduce

wish

must

and

whatever

the ultimate

have seemed

in primitive surroundings.

The earliest influence stemmed

from the somewhat

austere styles

of Louis XIII, and was of almost architectural severity. gradually gave way the rococo was

style of the late eighteenth

introduced.

Regime turning.

to that of the Louis XIV

Throughout

cabinetmakers Thus

This trend

period, and eventually

century, or Louis XV

period,

the several periods the early French

employed

expertly the arts of carving and

we find that the authentic

pieces still extant

are in

these respects superior to those of the later periods of Canadian cabinetmaking.

50

The Canadian

With

the final conquest

tion of contemporary reached 1812.

of Canada

style and

cases, did not Canadian. Canada

result in designs which

recognized

the cabinetmakers

the superabundance

countries, were considered

Although

continued

of styles, although

Eventually,

in Canada

until after the War important

could

of

in isolated

be called typically

of both Upper of woods

and Lower

which,

in other

beautiful in themselves.

it cannot

originated a style which

and the introduc¬

design, cabinetmaking

a transitional stage which This co-mingling

by England,

Collector

be

said

that

Canadian

influenced design throughout

cabinetmakers the world, they

did, -in many cases, adapt those of France and England. Through modification of design, chiefly functional, and the use of Canadian woods

they produced

authentic

Canadian

many

pieces easily recognizable

The

following illustrations show during the French Regime: Illustration Canadian

as being of an

origin.

No.

27

shows

an

types

of furniture produced

eighteenth-century

French-

birch cupboard,

or Bahut, and exemplifies the detail given to an item which, if produced in Upper Canada, would have been of elementary

design.

Illustration No. 28 is a chair of birch and curly maple, also of the Louis XIII period. This chair is interesting not only from an historical point of view, but as an example of how the severity of the furniture of the period was being relieved by the turning s given to stretchers and spindles.

The maple commode

illustrated in No. 29 exemplifies the changes

inspired by the later Louis XV period. The severity of line is gone. The handles, in this case of iron wrought into forms typical of the

No. 27.

Cupboard

(Bahut) of birch. French-Canadian,

Louis XIII.

No. 28.

Chair.

Birch and curly maple.

French-Canadian,

Louis XIII.

No. 29. Commode.

Maple. French-Canadian, Louis XV.

54

The Canadian

French

Regime, are much

refinement

when

more

compared

elaborate.

Collector

The whole suggests a new

with pieces of the earlier period.

The chair illustrated in No. 30 is another splendid example Louis XV

period of cabinetmaking

in New

France.

The

of the

fine atten¬

tion to detail demonstrates that period.

The wood

the rococo trend in design introduced used in this construction is birch.

These pieces are truly indicative of a dawning

at

native Canadian

culture, for although the designs were inspired by the mother country, the use of birch and maple makes them distinctively Canadian. This use of woods

native to North America, rather than the oak, mahogany, etc., preferred by cabinetmakers on the Continent, was

rosewood, continued Canada.

The terms But

well into the eighteen-fifties in both

nineteenth

Chippendale,

throughout

century introduced Hepplewhite,

LTpper and

Lower

the styles designated

by the

Regency,

etc., to the Canadas.

this period- until the designs of the Victorian

era

supplanted although

The

all others— the influence of the English cabinetmakers, strong, was of secondary importance in many sections.

following illustrations show cabinetmaking:

specimens

of Upper

Canada

Illustration No. 31 shows a drop-leaf table of curly maple . The legs suggest a design similar to that of the Hepplewhit e, but the simplicity, the overall use of figured maple, and the locale in which it was found, indicate that it is a product of Canada. The chest of drawers and the miniature chest illustrated in No. 32 are typical of Upper Canada cabinetmaking during the 1830’s . The large chest has a frame, the top of which

is dovetailed

to the sides,

as No. 30. Armchair.

Birch. French-Canadian, Louis XV.

No. 31.

Drop-leaf

Table.

Curly maple.

Upper

Canada,

nineteenth

century.

No. S2.

Chest

and Miniature Chest. nineteenth century.

Upper

Canada,

58

The Canadian

made

from butternut.

The lipped drawers

Collector

are of beautifully figured

maple. The

miniature

chest shown

readily authenticated

in the same

illustration is again

as being of Canadian

design is of course Empire.

But

craftsmanship.

the English cabinetmakers

The would

never have combined curly maple (spacers on drawers), bird’s eye maple (top), ash (applied turnings), figured walnut veneer (drawer fronts), and a frame of solid walnut. Illustration No. 33, although of Ontario origin, shows a cupboard influenced by the Bahut the severity of which grain of the wood

of Quebec.

illustrates the Upper

rather than the Lower

other additions to basic design. drawer

It is of a somewhat

The

Canada

Canada

frame

rare type,

reliance on the

use of carving or

is of butternut, and the

and door fronts are of curly maple.

The

tables illustrated in No.

Hepplewhite, Canadian

and

(right) Sheraton.

manufacture.

of curly maple.

34 show

The

The

the influence of (left)

Nevertheless,

these

table on the left is constructed

are

wholly

table on the right has a base and drawer

of cherry, with a top of curly maple.

front

These woods, and the modifica¬

tions in design, are a reliable indication that these tables were imported

from England

The

bookcase

mingling Canada

not

or the Continent.

illustrated in No.

of woods.

of

This

specimen

35 shows can

a characteristic

readily be attributed

co¬ to

and, in particular, Ontario, by the fish-tail type of termination

on the upper sections of the frames of doors. used throughout it evolved

Upper

Canada,

especially in the rural sections, where

into a serrated fish-tail finial which

boxes of many

types.

This is a form widely is to be found on wall

No.

33.

Cupboard.

Curly maple and butternut. nineteenth century.

Upper

Canada,

No. 34.

Tables:

No. 35.

(Left), Curly maple; (Right), Cherry Upper Canada, nineteenth century.

and

curly maple.

Bookcase. Curly maple, bird's eye maple, buttern ut, walnut. Upper Canada, nineteenth century.

and



No. 36.

Chairs:

Late Sheraton; Bow back Windsor; Upper Canada, nineteenth century.

“Country”

type.

Canadian The

63

Cabinetmakers three chairs shown

all districts of Ontario.

in illustration No. 36 are to be found in

The

central chair is of a Windsor

design,

having the deep “saddle seat” typical of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The curly maple cane-seated chair on the left, although

more

Provinces.

readily found

The plank-seated

tion (Leeds County,

in Ontario, was

manufactured

chair on the right shows

Ontario) of a type which

was

in both

a local varia¬

manufactured

in

great numbers from 1820 until the 1880’s, and includes the so-called rabbit-ear arrow-back. Illustration Canada.

The

is unique.

No.

37

shows

design, although

These

chairs have

an

armchair

influenced been

found

therefore can be said to be of Canadian

produced

in Upper

by that of the Regency, in some

design.

The

numbers, woods

and

used in

construction are curly and bird’s eye maple. The accompanying candle stand is purely a local type and adjustable.

Several of these stands, and also music

is

stands using a

similar principle, have been found in south-eastern Ontario.1 This chapter on Canadian cabinetmakers is limited to those

craftsmen

during the first half of the nineteenth

working

Especially in the cities and towns and

Toronto,

Hamilton

Canada,

Canada),

the styles of earlier periods were

nineteenth more

century.

cosmopolitan

and

Kingston

continued

And, as several advertisements

craftsmen

and Quebec

(other than Montreal

in Lower

sometimes

century.

in Upper

well into the

suggest, even the

reverted to what

they would

have spoken of as antique designs. ’For a detailed explanation of the techniques of manufacture, and detect both the age and construction of early Canadian furniture, consult:

the methods

used to

In a Canadian Attic, by Gerald Stevens. The Ryerson Press, Toronto; and The Furniture of French Canada, by F. St. George Spendlove, Curator, Canadiana Collections, Royal Ontario Obtain¬ Museum of Archaeology, Toronto. (Reprinted from The Connoisseur Year Book, 1954. able from the Royal Ontario Museum.)

No. 37.

“Canadian nineteenth

Regency,” Chair. Curly and bird's eye maple. Upper century. Candle Stand. Curly maple and black oak. Upper Canada, nineteenth century.

Canada,

Canadian

Cabinetmakers

Moreover, Canada

65

documentary

evidence

is usually so generalized

something

relative to earlier times

in

that, unless an actual invoice or

similar is discovered, a specimen

must

be catalogued

as

being of a type, rather than the product of a particular artisan. When makers, would

the writer first began compiling a list of Canadian

he approached

be both meagre

The

the subject with the expectation

that the list

and difficult to obtain; but it proved otherwise.

following excerpt from a census taken in 1851 will suggest

the wealth of material which of Canada,

is to be found.

It was entitled “Census

as regards trades, professions and useful employments.”

Artists of all kinds.

Architects, Sculptors, &c. :

Upper Canada — 218 Jewellers, Watch and Clockmakers:

Lower

Canada — 259

Upper Canada — 200 Lower Chair, Cabinetmakers, and Upholsterers:

Canada — 147

Lower Upper Canada — 1258 Shipwrights, Carpenters, Joiners, &c.:

Canada — 379

Upper Blacksmiths:

Canada — 8367

Lower

Canada — 8923

Upper Weavers :

Canada — 4235

Lower

Canada — 2840

Upper Canada — 1738 Brick-Makers & Potters:

Lower

Canada — 166

Lower

Canada — 50

Upper

Canada — 92

This “census” was compiled when Canadas consisted of 1,842,265 persons.

The

shipwrights, carpenters

would, of course, be comprised whom

cabinet¬

manufactured

the total population

and joiners listed in such numbers of craftsmen

the greater number

furniture of the “Country”

1 Of the “Country” type. A term Cosmopolitan areas.

of the

used to designate less elaborate

of

type1.

furniture sold in both rural and

66

The Canadian

Included works

were

England, follows.

in the census represented

in 1851.

Wm.

Drum,

Reed

& Meakins,

are the names

at the Grand

of cabinetmakers

Exhibition

A partial list of these craftsmen

Quebec,

Lower

Canada:

Collector

6 embroidered

whose

held in London, and their wares

chairs.

Montreal,

L.C.: black walnut centre table; sofa; rocking chair; “6 black walnut chairs, elaborately carved, needle¬ work coverings — style of 14th century — intended as a present to Her Majesty the Queen, from the ladies of Montreal.”

J. & W. Hilton, Montreal, L.C.: spring back table; walnut pier table; tete-a-t6te. James

Morice, Montreal,

S. Redhead,

Montreal,

L.C.: walnut

L.C.: 2 walnut

William Allen, Montreal, chairs.

L.C.:

sofa; walnut

centre

bedstead. chairs.

1 drawing-room

chair; 6 rocking

A number of advertisements are worthy of note, indicating particular types of furniture that had been manufactured. James Beckett, Belleville, Canada West: ‘‘Every description of furni¬ ture constantly on hand, or made to order . . .”

Robert & William Dalrymple, Sofa factory.”

Eben

Wood, Bytown, workmen.”

C.W.:

Brantford, C.W.:

“Every

“Cabinet,

Chair and

article in the line made

by good

Porter A Hoodless, Hamilton, C.W. : “Chair & Bedste factory every description of Rocking, Windsor, Cane ad Seat and Rush Bottom Chairs . . . and Bedsteads.” George Hunter, Kingston, C.W.: “Cabinet rooms . . . constantly on hand, or made

and upholstery to order.”

ware-

Hilton & Baird, Montreal, Lower Canada: “Curled Hair Mattra and Feather Beds. Mahogany and other woods for sale.” sses

J. Fraser, Montreal, L.C.: “. . . constantly on hand. . . . Feathers and Upholsterers’ trimmings.”

Curled

Hair

Canadian

John

67

Cabinetmakers

Johnson, Montreal, L.C.: "... a very superior stock . . . made under his own inspection . . . Hair Mattrasses and

Feathers.” Reed & Meakins, Montreal, L.C.: “Manufacture furniture cabinet- ware ... in both ancient and modern style.”

and

G. Thomas, dit Bigaouette, Quebec, L.C.: “. . . every description of Cabinet-ware, looking-glasses, &c. ...” William Drum, Quebec, L.C.: “A superior stock of furniture con¬

stantly on hand.” Jacques & Hay, Toronto, C.W.: “Cabinetmakers Windsor and cane seat chairs.”

and Upholsterers,

George Roberts, Toronto, C.W.: “Furniture . . . Cotton and Hair Mattrasses, Feather Beds, and Straw Palliasses made to order.” & Dining Owen M’ Garvey, Montreal, C.E.: “Sofas, Centre, Card tables . . . Desks of all kinds . . . 3000 Wood Seat Chairs, 2000 cane seat do. of 30 different patterns.”

A work which has been of inestimable value to persons interested is the report, “printed

in Canadiana Assembly,” France).

Canada

This

chosen

report

gives

by appointed

as a reliable source craftsmen

Exhibition

at the Universal

exhibition and the Canadian were

by order of the Legislative

exhaustive

of information

(Paris,

concerning

the

And, since these exhibitors

exhibitors. committees,

details

of 1855

the report is to be accepted

about

the outstanding

Canadian

of the times.

The following is a list of the Canadian at the exhibition

and,

wherever

cabinetmakers

represented

possible, a description

of their

products.

William Drum, Quebec, L.C.: “Chair.” As this chair was awarded a Medal, Second Class, in competition with examples of the world’s outstanding cabinetmakers, it is worthy of special mention. It was a “Chair of Curled Maple, covered with leather, embroidered with Moose Hair.” It was afterwards sold for £3.

68

The Canadian

J. & W. Hilton, of Montreal, for a “Sofa and Chairs.”

Collector

L.C., also received a similar award

Wm. Bevis, of Hamilton, U.C., and Owen M’Garvey, of Mon¬ treal, L.C., received honourable mentions. Mr. Bevis' entry was a mosaic table,” which table was specifically mentioned in the recapitulation remarks. Mr. M 'Garvey’s entry consisted of rocking chairs. There were several other items entered in this class, but apparently these were listed under the names of owners rather than manufacturers. *

The

remarks

appended

the exhibition, are most self-explanatory :

to the report, and of course made

interesting.

Here

after

is an excerpt, which

is

The articles exhibited by Canada in this class, while they serve as specimens of cabinet and other work connected with househ old furniture, present at the same time the qualities of our useful woods. The round table (Bevis) shews them all united in a sort of mosaic work: visitors will remark the beauty of our bird’s eye maple, our black walnut, and, more particularly, of our curled maple, a’ fine specimen of which is presented in the boudoir chair (Drum) .

“Upon inspection of a magnificent couch of bird’s eye maple, among the inimitable productions of Parisi an cabinet making, I was informed, that while the beauty of this wood for purpos es of cabinet making and room pannelling was generally apprec iated, it was excluded from general use, on account of its high price, and the difficulty of procuring it. I was surprised at this inform ation, from the fact that this wood is so abundant in Canada as to be used for iuel.

There

are several other categories of Canadian craftsmans hip which, although not to be found listed as cabinetmak ing, are relative to woodworking. These are Spinning-wheels and Clock s. A con¬ densed

listing of the artisans manufacturing

Among

the makers

U C. (Mr. Brough

of spinning-wheels was

these types follows.

were: R. Brough, Gananoque, the only spinning-wheel maker chosen to

Canadian

Cabinetmakers

represent Canada Choquet,

69

in the Universal

Among

the clockmakers

Cockburn,

Sherbrooke,

Stacey, Montreal, were: John L.C.; G.

L. Garniere,

Montreal,

L.C.;

J. N. Martyn,

Hamilton,

C.W.; Thomas

Charles James

of 1855); Alexander

St. Denis, C.E.; Peter Cress, St. Jacobs, C.W.; Pierre Paridis

& Son, St. Denis, C.E.; George

John

Exhibition

Sewell, Toronto, Vance, Toronto,

The

Carswell, Toronto,

D.

Edward

C.E.

Darling, Simcoe,

Magill,

Hamilton,

McMurray,

U.C.; U.C.; C.W.;

Toronto,

U.C.;

U.C.; J. B. and R. Twiss, Montreal,

L.C.;

U.C.; and Samuel

Wheeler,

following is a list of early Canadian

Dunnville,

cabinetmakers

C.W. which

will be of assistance to collectors. The

list is compiled

of the artisans arranged a piece was manufactured determine

to whom

with the names

of places rather than those

in alphabetical order.

The

is of prime importance

the specimen

may

when

be attributed.

are listed by their original names. Allenburgh, C.W. Amherstburg, C.W. Ayr, C. W.

Daniel Williams Lewis Butts C. R. Mosser

Bath, C.W. Beamsville, C.W. Bedford, C.E. Belleville, C.W.

D. T. Forward

Berlin, C.W. Bowmanville,

C.W.

Bradford, C.W. Brantford, C.W.

Henry Maghell B. Agar James Beckett E. P. Russell John Hoffman & Co. Noah Zeigler Robt. S. Manning Geo. Wright Davidson & Mosier Bacon & Chave Daniel Clifford R. & W. Dalrymple J. DunbarRyan Michael

Brighton, C.W.

locale in which

J. C. Simpson

attempting Towns,

to

etc.,

70

The Canadian Geo. Stewart

Brockville, C.W. Bytown, C.W. Caledonia,

James Walkley Ebin Wood

C.W.

E. & J. F. Moore John Matthews Domonique Coutlie

Cayuga, C.W. Cedars, C.E. CKambly, C.E. Chatham, C.E. Chatham, C.W. Chippawa, C.W.

John Oliver Quinn Aitken R. O. & R. Smith

Clark’s Mills, C.W. Coburg, C.W. Cornwall,

C.W.

Drummondville, Dundas, C.W.

Durham,

C.W.

C.E.

John Meriam Thos. Andrews Henry Huff Geo. Stephens John Shirkey Austin

Morse

Cowper & Builder O. W. Everitt Lewis Lewis Alex. Morrison

Eaton, C.E. Embro, C.W.

T. Wiggins Wm. Halliday

Farmersville, C.W. Franktown, C.W.

Archibald Jackson Robt. Lever

Galt, C.W.

John Barbour Arch. Buchanan A. Malcolm

Georgetown, C.W. Georgeville, C.E. Goderich, C.W.

Eligah Travis E. B. Rider Daniel Gordon S. Lamontagne Urbain Gravelires David Harvey Robt. Dickson

Granby,

C.E.

Grenville, C.E. Grimsby, C.W. Guelph, C.W.

Jacob Kenith G. W. Allen J. Hayton

Hamilton,

C.W.

Bain & Hastings P. Balfour J. J. T. S.

Blackford Dodsworth Hilton Meadows

Munroe, Williamson Porter & Hoodless James

Reid

& Morton

Collector

Canadian

Cabinetmakers

71

Hannahsville, C.W. Hawksbury, C.W. Hemmingford, C.E.

W. Colloden Geo. Hodgins Wm. Peacock

Ingersoll, C.W.

J. Buchanan

Homer Campbell Wm. Featherston A. Snelgrove Jordan,

H. Summerman

C.W.

Kemptville,

Kingston,

C.W.

C.W.

Thos.

Baldwin

J. Condell Jos. Wolfe H. Baseman 0. T. Butler H. Goodearle Hatch & Son W. Holgate Geo. Hunter Thos. McDermot Adam Main A. O’Loughlin

Lanark,

C.W.

Jas. Drysdale

Lancaster, C.W. Lennoxville, C.E. Lloydtown, C.W. London,

Jas. Gemmill John Steward Wm. Hall Geo. Darling Robt. Greenlees W. Bissell E. Brilliard W. Clark H. Coombs

C.W.

JEgar E. P. Ellis Jeffrey & Sons R. Mountjoy & Sons Wm. Till Magog, C.E. Manningville, C.E. Mariatown, C.W. Melbourne, C.E. Merrickville,

C.W.

Merritsville, C.W. Milford, C.W. Millbrook, C.W.

Hornson Bullard Thos. Hill C. S. Nevins Jas. Cairnie & Son David Sloane Sam. Langford Robt. Riddell Jas. Wright S. B. Crabb Thos.

Hetherington

The Canadian

72 Millcreek,

C.W.

Millroches, C.W. Milton, C.W. Milville, C.W.

Thos. Darley L. Dow A. S. Trewel I. Brooks Ben. Jones H. Wilmot E. Foyke Thos. Robins Wm. Vanstone

Montreal,

C.E.

Wm. Allen Geo. Armstrong T. Bacon J. C. Beers Jas. Bell Jas. Burrell C. Collins J. G. Daly L. Fortier Jos. Fraser S. Fraser E. Gates J. R. Griffith Hadden Hilton & Baird J. & W. Hilton L. Hodgkinson J. Johnson M. F. Johnson Wm. M’ Master Chas. Mearnes R. Moore Jas. Morrice Thos. Mountain Pariseau &^ro. Pierre Poulin H. Ranson T. M. Redhead Reed & Meakins Chas. Robertson R. & R. Robinson Wm. Selkirk

Moulinette, C.W. Mount Pleasant, C.W.

J. Tweedy Jos. Wray S. W. Bisbee J. Ellis J. Soules

Newboro’,

C.W.

James

Leech

Collector

Canadian

Cabinetmakers

Newburgh,

C.W.

Newcastle,

C.W.

Newhope,

C.W.

Newmarket,

C.W.

Norwichville, Oakville,

C.W.

C.W.

Orillia, C.W. Orono, C.W. Oshawa, C.W. Otterville, C.W. Owen Sound, C.W. Paris, C.W. Perth, C.W.

Peterboro’,

C.W.

Picton, C.W. Port Burwell, C.W. Port Dover, C.W. Port Hope, C.W.

Port Port Port Port Port

Maitland, C.W. Robinson, C.W. Rowan, C.W. Sarnia, C.W. Stanley, C.W.

Prescott, C.W. Preston, C.W.

Geo.

Ekens

J. Fularton Chas. Allin Fuller & Beachan B. H. Maybee J. Treleaven J. Ernst Chas. Karch A. Schmidt J. Millard S. Roodhouse Wm. Addison Geo. Bleakley David

Duff

Young & White N. Morrison C. C. Haight Thos. Fuller & Co. J. Johnston J. Chisholm Wm. Holmes Jas. Laycock QDavid Hogg ’ Jas. Hurley |\ Thos. Poole jas. Gillespie Rufus Sawyer J. Pielcher J. Simpson Fred. Honor W. F. Russell R. D. Smith C. D. Parnell Wm. Roberts J. R. Davis & H. F. McKenzie F. Mahon Geo. Waters Robt. Reid Justus Bechmann Chas. Gerster F. Guggisterg J- J- Zingg

Quebec,

C.E.

J. B. Bertrand W. H. Boomer J. Cartwright J. & J. Cole

73

F

.

The Canadian

74 Quebec,

C.E. (Continued )

C6t£ & Deroche N. C6t6 A. Cowan Thos. Craig

ThDarv Di os e on Th . aDur um S. osF.o le y P. Fo ur F. P. Gnaier gn on P. Gi lm Lo Gouur ui e Ale s Ha rard dd x. Ale He an nd S. xK.e er ar so M. Ke ne n ll y y L. La co st F. Lafleur e Thos. Lariviere J. S. Lepine Marmette J. Miller J. Parant Chas. Pitt A. Rickabv P. Roy G. dit B. Thomas T. Roy' J.J.O. Vallier Richmond, Richmond, Richmond, Richmond Rimouski,

River

C.E. C.W. C.W.

1 2

Hill, C.W. C.E.

Trent, C.W.

Jos. Labont6 H. Patterson G. & R. Mastin J. H. Woods J. Hurst Gaspard Dion Bernard Duberger Tobie Marchand Ed. Forrest Jas. Quinlan

St. Ami£,

C.E.

St. Andrews,

C.E.

Jos. Lapolice Benoni Milette A. Henry John Black Pascal Laliberte

St. Anicet, C.E. St. Catherines, C.W.

John Stackhouse Louis Choquette Thos.

M ’Intyre

Collector

75

Canadian St. St. St. St.

Cabinetmakers

Jacques, C.E. Jean Chrystome Luce, C.E. Marc, C.E.

St. Mary’s,

de Montreal,

C.W.

St. Polycarpe, C.E. St. Thomas, C.W. Scotland, C.W. Shannonville, C.W. Sherbrooke, C.E. Simcoe, C.W. Simcoe Falls, C.W.

C.E.

B. Rov H. & R. Hall B. & J. Mignault Jerome Pepin Bodman & Levy Thos. Jones Joachim Lavigne Aitkins & Mitchell Alex. Love L. Whitney Robt. Pagan W. E. Bryant J. L. Scott Wells

Smith’s Falls, C.W. Smithville, C.W.

M. O’Loughlin W. Bartlett C. Cutler E. Harkness

Stanbridge, East, C.E. Stewartstown, C.W. Stonebridge, C.W.

Josiah Moore Neavins Jones E. Boyce

Stanford,

C.W.

Wm. Kerr & Bros. Sanford Smith

Streetsville, C.W7.

Temperanceville,

C.W.

Thamesford, C.W. Thorold, C.W. Three Rivers, C.E. Toronto,

C.W’.

G. Schooley Geo. Hay

J. Hoover G. P. Waterman J. S. Godfrey Jas. McIntyre T. Rickabv J. A. Browning John Butters J. Campbell Jas. Clezie E. Drayton T. Fenwick Jas. FieldFrench Richard Robt. Fullarton E. B. Gilbert G. Hawksworth Geo. Hetherington Wm. Hutchinson John Jacques Jacques & Hay J. Kitson J. Lander

76

The Canadian

Toronto,

C.W.

(Continued )

Thos. Linfoot March & Church Wm. Marks W. Mitchell Jas. Myers Hugh McNeil T. D. Parker Robson & Wilson Geo. Roberts Thos. Ryan Archer Shaw J. & E. Sheppard Thos. Stephenson J. Struthers Wm. Swallow Wm. Wallis Wm. Watts H. B. Williams J. H. J.E.Williams Willmot Wilson & Haigh Wisman & Chanley

Uxbridge,

Vankleekhill, Vienna,

A. G. Hemphill

C.W.

E. Darion Wm. Ferguson E. Glover

C.W.

C.W.

A. Wilson

Wardsville, C.W. Waterdown, C.W. Waterford, C.W. Waterloo, C.E. Wellington Square, Whitby, C.W.

Williamstown, C.W. Williamsville, C.W. Wilton, C.W. Woodstock, C.W.

Lilly & Saunders J. A. Barber Mitchell M. L. Lawerence C.W.

J. Saunders W. Caldwell W. Shaw Wm. Till Chas. Wilkinson P. Gadbois D. Beaty Jas. Basbinder JohnCollins Bain W. Alex. Grobb H. Inglesgrove Jas. Johnson J. Norman Robt. Robertson

Yorkville,

C.W.

J. Rennie

Collector

Canadian

Gunsmiths

Canadian Gunsmiths

lhe collector has, of late years, become craftsmen

almost as interested in

who, long ago, created the objects in a collection as he is

in the collection itself. And

this is especially so in the case of arms

and their accessories. A specific type of firearm may numbers

as to be commonplace

been made

in such

in one country, but because of having

in very limited quantities, a rarity in another.

the country The

have been manufactured

Therefore,

of origin is of prime importance.

first step in attempting

to determine

the country

in which

a firearm was produced is to examine it for “proof marks.” If found, these would usually indicate that the arm was a product of one of the many

European

countries exporting

since the proof marks

of these countries

research is unnecessary. custom

to assume

This have

that the arm

that part of the nineteenth When

It is now

gunsmiths — in many every

century

the self-contained

metallic

79

further

known

States. that there

cases these were

section of the Canadas when

And

is found it has been the

was a product of the United

is no longer necessarily so.

been Canadian

America.

are well known,

But if only a name

facturers” — located in almost use.

guns to North

muzzle-loaders cartridge

“manu¬ during

were still in

superseded

the

80

The Canadian

powder

horn and the percussion cap, and mass production

order of the day, the local gunmaker became

disappeared,

a repairer rather than a maker

Collections of smallarms

Collector

became

the

and the gunsmith

of smallarms.

will undoubtedly

include types which

are listed as matchlock, snaphaunce, and the “doglock” types of flintlock, and may be presumed that these were made in Canada. But

as yet researchers

have

been

evidence relative to these types.

unable

However,

period establishes the fact that Canadian lock and percussion rifles and shotguns the Canada The

to obtain

documentary

data pertaining to a later gunsmiths

in some

produced

numbers.

flint¬

Indeed,

rifle can be a study in itself.

Canada

rifle resembles

the Kentucky

and

Hawkins

They often have very ornate trigger guards, patchboxes,

rifles.

silver inlays,

and quite intricate checkering, and the inletting of barrels and actions is of excellent workmanship.

The

calibres vary, as was

usual in

those days, from the squirrel rifle type with a calibre only slightly smaller than barrels and

.30 to the big game calibres approaching,

The stocks were usually made or from the ever-popular

It was

types having and

sometimes

century

was widely practised throughout

Quebec.

Until then the hunters were

or England.

and

the advent

that the craft of the

what

is now

Ontario

and

explorers of these territories

usually armed

with guns

supplied from

Indeed, until quite late in the nineteenth

century, the great trading companies as trade goods.

With

greater than, .60.

curly maple.

gunsmith

either France

heavy

from walnut, often of a figured variety,

not until the nineteenth

and of the Maritimes

amazingly

were importing guns to be used

of the nineteenth

century,

and

the flow of

Canadian

Gunsmiths

Canadian

settlers continuing

from

the sea ports and

81 and therefore farther

to the westward,

cosmopolitan

centres where

obtained

readily, the need for the local gunsmith

of these

craftsmen

locating in communities

arms

could be

resulted in many

which

could

absorb

their output. It is found blacksmiths

that a number

or bellhangers

and were listed as such.

quite difficult — and in many evidence

that would

county

primarily

This makes

gunsmiths

histories, and

make. the

consists of studying early newspapers,

those directories which

tions carry advertisements

it

cases impossible — to find documentary

doing research on any type of Canadiana,

persons as well as their names ments

were

identify signed guns as of Canadian

As is usual when search for Canadian

of these gunsmiths

and addresses.

list the professions of Many

as well, and it is through

of these publica¬ these advertise¬

that specific types of articles, including those of secondary

interest, may

be established

as having

been

made

or dealt in by

the advertisers. These

advertisements

give a cross section picture of the times,

and indicate the specialties of a few of the Canadian

One

of the most

throughout Toronto,

interesting of those, who

the first half of the century,

Upper

Canada.

in the days when

was

may

be found

James

He was one of a number

the flintlock was still considered

gunsmiths.

who

listed

Ashfield, of were active

to be the ultimate in

firing mechanisms.

One

of Mr.

Ashfield’s

later advertisements — in the

Canada

Directory of 1851 — helps to establish that it was during this period that the percussion method of ignition completely superseded the flintlock.

His advertisements

reads: “Gun

& Rifle Manufacturer—

The Canadian

82

Collector

Guns neatly Percussioned.” By this time, what is now considered a sad state of affairs had become a universal practice and, a great percentage

of the earlier and

more

interesting flintlocks had

been

converted into the “cap and ball” type of arm which is, today, much more readily found. Mr. Ashfield was one of the two Canadian gunsmiths — the other was rifles were

chosen

Exhibition

held in London,

Another

note.

Not

England,

gunsmith

entries in the Grand

should be brought

to the attention

Michael Judge was what could be called a craftsman

leaves behind

to give variety to modern

but he represents the

collections of early Canadiana.

is listed in a number

of directories.

But

Michael

Lovell's Canada

this entry: “Michael

Gunsmith, Silver & Goldsmith. Guelph, C.W.” Another advertisement indicating the type

and the manner

Judge —

of rifles made

makes

“All Kinds

of Gain

Twist

Top and Bottom.” One of the greatest rarities in the field of early Canadiana of the gunsmiths

centres listed pistols among strange as it may

in

in which they were made, states that Charles

Pauli, of Belleville, C.W.,

pistol. Many

of

him several types, rather than one only,

Directory for the year 1851 contains

Canada,

L.C. — whose

in 185E

that his guns were so outstanding,

artisan who

Judge

of Montreal,

as part of the Canadian

Canadian

of collectors.

T. J. Boyd

Rifles. is the

and dealers in the larger metropolitan the items in which

seem, a very small number

they dealt.

But,

of these pistols have been

found.

In the main, the earlier single shot, muzzle-loading type of pistol seen in collections is of a military type, and these are often found to be converted

an

flintlocks. They are of course interesting from

historical viewpoint,

but

usually bear proof marks English or other non-Canadian origin.

indicating

Canadian

83

Gunsmiths

Although

these hand

guns

are great rarities, even

centres had their pistol makers.

This is confirmed

advertisement which lists “William working in Newbury, C.W. When

dealing with

hand

Clayson — Gun

guns,

one

the smaller

by the following & Pistol Maker”

well-known

category

of

military firearm is worthy of mention. This is the Colt’s percussion revolver, which has been found in some numbers, and was a standard arm

of the Canadian

Militia for some

readily identified by the stamped The

usual markings

or L.C. above

time.

markings

are a three line stamp

These

revolvers

on the wooden

are

butts.

consisting of either U.C.

a letter such as B. or F., and a third line of numerals

such as 29, 15, etc. The markings show that these Colt’s were used by various regiments of the Militia in Upper or Lower Canada. The Colt’s revolvers so stamped are usually found manufactured under the London patent.

Any

of the gunsmiths

account

First in importance

muzzle-loaders. For many was

market. powder

of an earlier era should

been

include

of the accessories so necessary to the loading and firing of the

mention

C.W.,

to have

one

This

would

be the powder.

years the Gore

Powder

Mills, located at Hamilton,

of the most

important

suppliers of the Canadian

firm provided

used both for hunting

many and

of the settlers with

the black

for the blasting so necessary in

clearing land.

Second

in importance

surprising how found

were

many

made

the powder

horn

of the flask type of container

by local tinsmiths.

flasks were manufactured ing collection may

was

These

or flask.

It is

that have been

early tole and copper

in almost every locality, and a very interest¬

be formed

of these alone.

Some

local tinsmith

84

The Canadian

or coppersmith

may,

with complete

Collector

assurance, be credited with this

type of collector’s item. Of much

greater importance

and interest are the powder

made

from the horn of an ox or steer.

have

been carved

knife blade.

or, more

When

Sometimes

often, burned

the design is burned

horns

these are found to

with a heated

needle or

into the horn it is termed

“scrimshaw.”

The amount

degree of importance

of this type of horn depends

of decoration, the name

and date if any, and the historical

significance pertaining to the horn. fine pair of powder

on the

Of this type are a particularly

horns in the collection of the Dominion

Archives

at Ottawa.

Next pouches,

in importance nipple wrenches,

cutters, game accessories.

powder

bags, powder

Last, but far from early hunters would knives, tomahawks

The

are the gun

flints, percussion

measures,

caps, shot

bullet moulds,

patch

funnels for filling the horns, and other

least, are those items without

have been helpless in the woods.

which

These

the

are the

and axes.

earliest hunting

knives

were

usually of very

But, as is to be seen in the advertisement

of T. W.

small

Boyd,

size.

in The

Pilot — a newspaper published in Montreal, C.E., during the period circa 1855 the larger Bowie knife was, during the mid-nineteenth century, a great favourite. Canes

&

Mr. Boyd

Bowie

Mr. Boyd’s advertisement

Knives — Upwards

was one of Canada’s

In the more

of a thousand

most important

rural districts, hunting

reads: “Sword

guns for sale.”

dealers in firearms.

knives

were

a homemade

Canadian

Gunsmiths

product. made

It has been established that many

this type of wrought

iron during their spare time.

A very interesting collection may axes.

85 of the local blacksmiths

be formed

of historic Canadian

The collection could start with the very early trade tomahawks

used during the French Ajackuaton

and

include the Ajackua

(large and small tomahawk

the rare pipe tomahawk, and chopping

in the Algonquin

and

the

vernacular),

and go on from these to the later hatchets

axes of the pioneer.

As Canadian well known, items.

Regime,

smallarms

and their accessories are, as yet, not too

the following*illustrations will assist collectors of such

Illustration No. 38 shows four typical Canada to lower, the rifles were

the products

rifles. From

of the following Canadian

gunsmiths: C. Nichol, Chatham, Ont. ; J. Ashheld, Toronto; nardson, Toronto; and L. McIntosh, Goderich, C.W. Illustration No. 39 shows

upper

the actual markings

which

G. Renare to be

found on these rifles. Illustration No. 40 shows {top) a pistol of the eighteenth century having the flintlock method

of ignition.

a similar type after being converted

The central pistol illustrates

to the percussion method.

lower is a pistol of the percussion type stamped barrel.

These

W. Clayson

are historic pistols of the early Canadian

The

on the

militia.

Illustration No. 41 consists of {top row ) two early knives and a rare pipe tomahawk; and three eighteenth-century tomahawks. The accessories shown in illustration No. 42 consist of powder

flasks, shot pouches, bullet moulds, nipple wrenches, were necessary

when

using muzzle-loading

Illustration No. 43 shows

etc., all of which

firearms.

the scrimshaw

type of decoration

used

No. 38.

Four typical “Canada”

c