Large Beauceware Canada No. 258 Green and Yellow Starburst Vase
A striking piece of mid-century Canadian pottery! Made by Céramique de Beauce in Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce, Quebec, this large sculptural vase features a dramatic fluted starburst form. Its glossy deep-green exterior opens to reveal a vivid chartreuse-yellow interior, creating a wonderful contrast from every angle. The unusual shape gives the vase a distinctly modernist appearance. It would look equally impressive filled with flowers or displayed on its own as a piece of Canadian art pottery. The underside is impressed BEAUCEWARE CANADA 258. The Beauceware name was introduced in 1956 for the company’s English-speaking market; this mark and form suggest a date of approximately the late 1950s to early 1960s. Condition: Excellent vintage condition. No chips, cracks or repairs. There are minor manufacturing and glaze irregularities, along with light age-related wear and discolouration to the unglazed foot. See photos for details. Dimensions: Height – 9.5" Width (base) - 4.5" Width (mouth) - 6.25" Weight – 1.6 kg About the manufacturer - Beauceware originated in 1940 as an unusual rural-development project supported by Quebec’s Ministry of Agriculture following the discovery of red clay near the Calway River. The program trained Beauce-area farmers in pottery making so that they could earn supplementary income, remain on their farms and help slow the region’s rural exodus. These early participants became known as the céramistes-paysans, or farmer-potters. Wartime restrictions on imported European and Asian ceramics subsequently created a favourable market for their wares, helping the modest training initiative develop into Céramique de Beauce, one of Quebec’s most important twentieth-century pottery manufacturers.