| Excerpt |
After being practiced in the large factories of Europe, the art of decorating porcelain became an amateur domestic industry especially for women. In Canada, it mostly remained a feminine specialty that was linked to the Arts and Crafts Movement introduced into the country in the last quarter of the 19th century. Because the movement was North American in scope, it is important to compare developments in Canada with those in the United States. On the Canadian scene, the brothers John and James Griffiths were largely responsible for spreading of this “professional” hobby. The Cabot Commemorative State Dinner Service presented in 1898 to Lady Aberdeen, the Governor General’s wife, exemplifies the degree of skill attained by Canadian women artists of the time. The article highlights the achievements of several artists in the field from its beginnings in Canada. |
