Name/Title
[Desk Ornament] "Alberta's Oil Sands and Heavy Oil Potential" Standee w/ Samples LabeledEntry/Object ID
2023.6.22Tags
Artistic Souvenirs Ltd., Office, Desk Ornament, Standee, Plaque, Oil Sample, Mineral Sample, Crude Oil, Tar Sands, Alberta, Athabasca Tar Sands, Fort McMurray, Peace River, Buffalo Head Hills, Wabasca, Cold Lake, Lloydminster, Brown, Oil Field, DrillingDescription
Standee desk ornament, with plaque featuring oil location in Alberta, and three (labeled) oil/mineral samples.
Features: A standee-style metal desk ornament with oil and mineral samples in glass phial incorporated. The back standee plate is a metal sheet, with a second embossed sheet of metal attached. The embossed sheet has a raised border with the following elements inside: a map of Alberta with key locations highlighted and a wild rose flower to the lower-left; title text followed by a list of key locations. Text reads: "ALBERTA'S OIL SANDS AND HEAVY OIL POTENTIAL; ATHABASCA TAR SANDS; FORT MCMURRAY; PEACE RIVER; BUFFALO HEAD HILLS; WABASCA; COLD LAKE; LLOYDMINSTER; A CHANCE OF RECOVERY FROM THE WORLD'S LARGEST KNOWN DEPOSITS; —IT IS OUR CHALLENGE—". The entire embossed panel has a sepia-brown coating. On the reverse of the standee section, upper-centre, is a pressed out band to allow the item to be hung. There is also a small sticker at the bottom-centre bearing the manufacturer and date: "Rd; 1979; MADE BY Artistic Souvenirs Ltd.; EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA".
Riveted to the back plate is a narrow rectangular prism that allows it to stand, an has a gap along the middle of the front-facing side. This section is coated black, and also holds three samples in glass phials. From left to right, the phials contain tar sand (black granules), crude oil (clear yellow liquid), and sand residue (light-coloured granules. These phials are sealed with cork and adhered to the interior of the base of the prism, and protrudes up through specifically sized holes in the top of the prism. Along the front of the prism, above the gap are printed the names of the samples in white.
Another version of this standee can also be found in the collection.Collection
Orphan Objects CollectionCataloged By
Danielle P. LaneCategory
Desk Ornament
Office, Branded and Promotional Material
Acquisition
Accession
2023.6Acquisition Method
FoundMade/Created
Manufacturer
Artistic Souvenirs Ltd.Date made
circa 1979Time Period
20th CenturyPlace
* Untyped Place
Edmonton, AlbertaLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Primary Object Term
DecorationNomenclature Primary Object Term
Plaque, DecorativeNomenclature Primary Object Term
Ornament, FurnitureNomenclature Primary Object Term
PlaqueNomenclature Sub-Class
Decorative FurnishingsNomenclature Sub-Class
Organizational ObjectsNomenclature Class
Household AccessoriesNomenclature Class
ArtNomenclature Class
Ceremonial ObjectsNomenclature Category
Category 02: FurnishingsNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication ObjectsDimensions
Dimension Description
Full SizeHeight
152 mmWidth
182 mmDimension Description
Rectangular Prism BaseHeight
21 mmWidth
182 mmDepth
29 mmDimension Description
Sample Phials (Individual)Height
44 mmDiameter
15 mmDimension Description
Back PlateHeight
152 mmWidth
182 mmDepth
2 mmMaterial
Metal, Glass, Geological MineralsColor
Silver, Brown, Yellow, White, BlackCondition
Reason for Exam
AccessionOverall Condition
GoodCondition Detail
Flaking, Dent, Scratch, Warping, WearDate Examined
Mar 2, 2023Examined By
Danielle P. LaneSurface
Sepia-brown coating over the embossed plate has flaked/chipped off in the upper-right. One large patch after "OIL SANDS" and some smaller chips along the edge to the right.
Light-medium scratches on the front and back of the standee plated.
Black has worn off on the bottom corners of the rectangular prism base.Materials
A dent, to the left end of the rectangular prism has slightly warped the shape at the top.Created By
Danielle P. LaneCreate Date
February 24, 2023Updated By
Danielle P. LaneUpdate Date
March 17, 2023