Collectors

A glorious selection of stained glass and pottery

Iwas so excited when I came across the story written by Deb Sandau in a past issue of More of Our Canada (September 2019) about her family’s vaseline china and Blue Mountain pottery—and that she and her mom had once lived in Calgary and used to go down 17th Ave. together, looking for treasures. I lived in Calgary, too, and wonder what stores they went to and where other people go now to find such beautiful creations.

I inherited from my grandmother on my father’s side of the family a green-swan table lamp-planter that still works, which I believe is Blue Mountain pottery. From my mother’s side, I inherited an assortment of unique pieces of china, including a yellowish-gold glass cup with a face on each side and a saucer. Vaseline china, perhaps?

Other pieces are very delicate, thin, almost transparent china in blue and tan; salt and

pepper shakers in a holder are also among the collection. I have a second cup and saucer with painted daisies in white. This one has splashes of colour on the outside and came with a matching, sectional plate. I also have a similar set, but in gold. The gold cup is smaller and not as delicate as the blue one. I am not sure if I am missing pieces to the sets, or if this is the way they came when bought. Maybe the open sections on the saucers are for sandwiches or sweets? Perhaps the salt-andpepper holder’s third opening is for an egg?

My maternal grandmother passed away when my mom was about 14 , so I never had the chance to know her. I am not sure what happened to Mom’s father, but I do know he served in the Armed Forces.

My mother almost lost the china for good once when she couldn’t pay her rent and her landlord held the pieces until she could come up with the money. Thankfully she was able to borrow the sum and got the pieces back. My parents are both gone now, and my sisters and I want to keep the collection in the family so we can continue to share and enjoy it. It is my hope that my daughters will do the same, too. These special items are important to us and we would love to learn more about their history. ■

Can you help Bonnie learn more about her collection? Write to us at ourcanada.ca and we’ll pass your message along to her.

Clockwise from far left: Bonnie’s gold cup and saucer with a daisy motif; a face etched in a yellow-glass cup; a second cup and saucer set, this one in blue; salt & pepper shakers.