TidesNet—Online Collections Entry Detail

DescriptionA pottery pitcher that was created as part of the Charlotte County Cottage Craft industry initiative founded in St. Andrews, New Brunswick by Grace Helen Mowat in 1913. It dates to the 1920s. Mowat was born in St. Andrews in 1875, studied art in London (Richmond School of Art and Music )and New York City (Cooper Union) and then briefly taught art in both New England and Nova Scotia. She then returned to St. Andrews to help care for her aging parents and their farm at Beech Hill. Then and there she came up with the idea of establishing a cottage craft industry the would help give employment and income to the rural women of Charlotte County, New Brunswick. Cottage Craft initially focused on yarns naturally dyed in colors reflective of Charlotte County landscape and seascape. The yarns were then sold directly as yarn or woven into products for sale such as sweaters and cardigans as well as colorful bags and figurative dolls. With the success of the yarn and weaving industry part of Cottage Craft, in the early 1920s Mowat next attempted to expand the industry by including linen and pottery. Neither proved to have longer term success after several shorter term attempts. The pottery that was produced using local clays and ranged from small vases and candle holders to small pitchers and plates, again, decorated in colors and scenes reflective of Charlotte County. With the coming of the second World War, Mowat’s oversight of Cottage Craft began to end and successors were found to continue the industry. Mowat died at her Beech Hill farm at the age of 90 in 1964. Photo caption: Cottage Craft pottery pitcher decorated with a cottage, field fence, tree and background of blue sea. The pitcher dates to the 1920s. Old Accession Number: 1526