Name/Title
Commemorative Vase: Ottawa Post OfficeEntry/Object ID
988.3.2Description
This object is a commemorative vase made of ceramic. It is painted on the front only, despite containing decorative elements on the back which are rendered in three dimensional space. This is unusual as the facing and level of detail of the painting would suggest this object was intended to be viewed from a fixed point, however effort was made to stylize the back as well. It stands on four feet which are situated at the sides, front, and back. The vessel tapers in at shoulder before flaring out at the lip. The lip is scalloped with rounded edges; it is trimmed in gold. There are four stylized handles situated on the sides of this object, two on each side. One set of handles begins near the base, arcing away from the body before turning inwards and meeting the vessel at the shoulder. The second set of handles emerges from just below the shoulder, arcing away from the vessel, before turning towards the body at a right angle and rejoining the vessel at the base of the neck. The handles intersect and are attached to each other on both sides. The front of the vessel features 25 ceramic flowers surrounding an image in the center; some of these flowers are painted gold; all have a gold center. The image is depicted in black ink and displays the Old Ottawa Post Office. Below the image are the words "POST OFFICE OTTAWA CAN." rendered in capital letters. The front is painted gold on the bottom, handles, and sides. The top of the front is painted black, dark blue, and light blue; this dark paint extends to the top of the uppermost handle. All painted areas feature an unusual motif of irregular gold circles. The back of the vessel is unpainted. The back features two stylized flowers, or clovers, executed in ceramic at the top. Additional three dimensional elements appear on the bottom center as extensions of the handles which sweep upwards. The back foot also contains these sweeping line designs.Context
This object is significant as it is commemorative piece which features "The Old Ottawa Post Office" which was important to the history of Ottawa. Additional significance is imparted due to the fact that the building depicted on the image is no longer extant. In addition to this, the depiction of the building does not represent the final appearance of the structure at the time it was demolished in 1938.Made/Created
Date made
1876Notes
Additional create date: 1988Lexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Primary Object Term
CommemorativeNomenclature Sub-Class
MemorabiliaNomenclature Class
Documentary ObjectsNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication ObjectsSearch Terms
Vase, Memorabilia, Old Ottawa Post Office, Confederation Square, Connaught PlazaLegacy Lexicon
Object Name
Vase, CommemorativeDimensions
Height
5 cmWidth
11 cmLength
14 inMaterial
ceramic - céramique
