Imperial Clay

Image Credit: Gardiner Museum, 2012

At lunch today I took the subway up three stops to check out the Gardiner Museum, Canada's national ceramics museum.

I had never been to the Gardiner before, and I was impressed that there exists a museum devoted solely to the curatorial presentation and preservation of ceramics. The museum's collections numbers some 3,000 pieces and it also hosts special exhibitions.

I was drawn to a current special exhibition called Rule Britannia!: Four Centuries of British Style, Power & Taste.  According to the show's website," Rule Britannia! celebrates the union of artistry and craft that symbolises and captures the social history, ingenuity, aspirations and sensibilities of one of the world’s greatest empires. Examining significant moments in the development of iconic British potteries, Rule Britannia! documents their emergence in the late 17th century to their domination of the world market in the 19th and early 20th centuries."

Of special interest was the aisle devoted to the celebration of members of the Royal Family, dating back to the 16th century and rolling right up to the marriage of TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. 

Just down the street from the Gardiner is another specialty museum devoted solely (har) to shoes. I have never been there before either.  Perhaps a peek into the Bata Shoe Museum will be a fun lunch trip for another day...