Exhibition: All Fired Up. An Exhibition of Ceramic Masterpieces
The Museum describes its new show All Fired Up as an exhibition of ceramic masterpieces. The artifacts in the collection date back as much as 4,000 years ago and originate from cultures around the world including Iran, Mexico, China and more. It’s mind boggling to view the pieces in the collection and consider the places they’ve been and the events they’ve been witness to during the course of their existence. The quality of craftsmanship of the artifacts is stunning. Perhaps the most amazing of all is the Prince of Wales Ice Pail, crafted in 1930 by Belleek Pottery Works Company Ltd. in Northern Ireland. The slightly iridescent pail with its intricately carved cherubs, mermaids, dolphins and horses looks more like an elegant trophy than a utility item.
The Prince of Wales Ice Pail was one of the most expensive items ever produced by Belleek. Intricate and detailed, the lid depicts a cherub blowing a conch shell while riding on the back of a dolphin with three horses emerging from a roiling sea. The rim of the pail is fashioned porcelain that looks like coral. The side panels feature cherubs and dolphins in various poses, amid bullrushes, shells, and flowing water below. The pedestal base features three mermaids holding a shell that forms the base of the pail itself. The Prince of Wales Ice Pail is on exhibit courtesy of the Greater Vernon Museum and Archives