Welcome to the second week of Advent! We have finished decorating the gallery with our Christmas Calendar Exhibition highlighting our recent acquisitions. We invite you to visit through December 23 and savour home-made treats with mulled cider glögg.

This week’s gift guide highlights Canada including stunning works by Harold Thomas Beament, Robert Davidson, Leo Mol among a wonderful selection of Canadian holiday gift ideas.

Charles E. De Belle (Canadian 1873-1939) ‘Young Dancers’ pastel, initialed lower right "CB" Size: 13 ½ h x 13 ½ w in. J20634

Thomas Harold Beament (Canadian 1898-1984) ‘Laurentian Landscape’. oil on canvas, signed lower left "Harold Beament", inscribed verso "Catalogue of National Gallery, page 798". Size: 18 h x 24 w in. J20609

Born in Ottawa, Ontario in 1898, Thomas Harold Beament served in the Royal Canadian Navy during WWI, after which he completed a law degree. The same year he attended evening life drawing classes under J.W. Beatty at the Ontario College of Art before deciding to become a full-time artist. He developed a distinct personal style of decorative realism in his painting and came to be known for his landscapes. He exhibited extensively and became an associate of the Royal Canadian Academy in 1936, a full member in 1947, and went on to serve as president from 1964 to 1967.

With the outbreak of WWII, Beament entered full-time service with the RCNVR rising to the rank of Commander and was also selected as a war artist. He retired from the Naval Reserve in 1947 and resumed a full-time career as a professional painter.

Beament traveled widely, as well as extensively throughout Canada. Along with Lawren Harris and A.Y. Jackson, Beament was one of the first artists to explore the Arctic, painting Inuit genre scenes in the Canadian North. He also made lithographs, which are included in the Sampson-Matthews Collection of original silkscreens produced between 1943 and 1957 under the supervision of Group of Seven members, A.J. Casson and A.Y. Jackson. Beament was represented by the Watson Gallery in Montreal and the Laing Gallery in Toronto, and his work can be found in both public and private collections worldwide. Beament lived in Quebec until his death in 1984.

William Morris Carmichael (Canadian 1894-1954) Pair of unusual and rare sterling silver scalloped dishes with fluted edge, stamped with Carmichael's early hallmark 'WMC' and 'sterling'.Size: 4 ¼ x 3 ¼ in. C20206

William Morris Carmichael (Canadian 1894-1954) Round silver plated dish with incised floral decoration, stamped with Carmichael's shield hallmark, second quarter of the 20th century. Size: 11 h x 2 3/4 w in. C20207

Born in Victoria, British Columbia in 1894, William Morris Carmichael received most of his training in England. His father opened their first store in 1927 on Government Street and two years later they moved to Fort Street where they remained. The firm became known for quality silver plate made in the Old Sheffield Plate style using a sheet of copper fused between two sheets of silver and then rolled and chased. Decoration often incorporating local flowers and indigenous designs, and rare pieces were made in sterling silver and are today highly collectible. Many works were commissioned including a Thunderbird bowl for King George V and Queen Mary in 1935. For years Carmichael was the only silversmith west of Toronto and is now sought after by collectors. Works can be found in museums in both Victoria and Vancouver.

John A. Hammond, Rca, Osa (Canadian 1843-1939) ’Incoming Train, Western Prairies’
oil on panel, signed lower right "J Hammond" Incoming Train, Western Prairies, dated 1899. A friendship with Sir William Van Horne, President of Canadian Pacific Railway led to commissions (c.1891-1906) to paint scenery along Western Canada's railway routes. A rare western subject. Size: 5 h x 8 w in. J20390

A great admirer of the French Barbizon and Dutch Hague schools John Hammond is one of Canada’s earliest celebrated historical artists. Born in Montreal in 1843, in his twenties he traveled with his brother to London, England, and then sailed to New Zealand where they spent two and a half years panning for gold. He returned to Canada in 1870 and in 1871 joined the Transcontinental Survey party who were making preliminary studies for the building of a railway.

Hammond was employed by William Notman Photographers in Montreal, working with artists such as J.A. Fraser, Henry Sandham, Otto Jacobi, and W.P. Weston. He moved to Saint John in 1880 and became principal of the Owens Art Institution, remaining in New Brunswick for the rest of his life. He traveled to Europe including to Holland where he painted with James McNeill Whistler, to France where he painted with Francois Millet at Barbizon, and later to Italy. He exhibited at the Paris Salon, winning two awards in 1886.

Sir William Van Horne, president of the Canadian Pacific Railway, was a great admirer of Hammond’s work and commissioned him to create murals for the railway’s hotels and offices across Canada. In 1900-1901 Hammond traveled to China and Japan to promote the Canadian Pacific steamship line. He was elected a member of the newly formed Ontario Society of Artists in 1873 and exhibited widely including at the Royal Academy between 1891 and 1935. Examples of his work can be found in institutions and private collections worldwide.

James Macdonald Barnsley (Canadian 1861-1929)’ Landscape (Likely Northern France)’
oil on panel, signed lower left "J M Barnsley", circa 1885. Size: 8 1/2 h x 13 1/4 w in. J20272

James MacDonald Barnsley was one of the first Canadians to make an impact in Paris prior to the twentieth century. This painting is most likely painted during the artist's time in Northern France. Barnsley had a very short span of productivity, only thirteen years, however his works influenced some of Canada’s well know artists, including his Montreal contemporaries William Brymner and Maurice Cullen. Read more about the artist…

John Livingston (Adopted Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwakiutl), 1951-2019) ’Kwakiutl Sea Otter Feast Dish with Ladle’ Wooden feast dish with matching ladle, carved and painted in red, green and black, depicting a sea otter laying on its back with its tail curled up, the bowl in its belly, inscribed "John Livingston 1974 Kwakiutl Sea Otter Feast Bowl". Provenance: Purchased directly from the artist April 1974. Private Collection, B.C. Size: 6 h x 19 w x 8 d in. P20428

*Robert Charles (G̲uud San Glans) Davidson (Haida/Canadian, b. 1946) ‘Beaver’. Serigraph, signed "RD", 300 printed, circa 1969. Size: 16 3/4 h x 12 1/2 w in. J2050*

Robert Charles Davidson, G̲uud San Glans (Eagle of the Dawn) of the Eagle Clan, was born in Hydaburg, Alaska in 1946 and was raised in Old Massett, Haida Gwaii. His father, Claude Davidson, and Grandfather, Claude Davidson Sr., began Robert’s carving career in wood and argillite when he was 13 years old. He was majorly influenced by his great-grandfather Charles Edenshaw and his grandmother Florence Davidson who had 13 children, providing a large number of ‘aunties’ to whom Robert was very close.

It was necessary to move to Vancouver in 1965 for Robert to complete high school, and it was there that he learned to produce silkscreen prints and began producing jewellery. He met Bill Reid in 1966 while demonstrating carving at Eaton’s Department store, with whom he would develop a lasting relationship. Robert moved into Bill Reid’s studio where the apprentice made his own tools and would learn the fundamentals of two-dimensional design.

Robert Davidson is best known for his thorough understanding and mastering of traditional Haida sculpture and design. He is celebrated for his fine craftsmanship as well as his understanding of Northern two-dimensional design. Widely recognized, his carvings, prints, paintings and jewellery are collected world wide.

*Robert Charles (G̲uud San Glans) Davidson (Haida/Canadian, b. 1946) Bear Bracelet Silver, inscribed "Haida Art Davidson". Size: 1 1/4 h x 3 w x 2 1/4 d in. R20410*

*Randy Adams (Nishga/Canadian, 20th Century) ’Kingfisher Bowl’. Round cedar bowl, with carved and painted decoration signed, Size: 2 3/4 h x 5 1/2 w x 5 1/4 d in. P20420*

*Judy Cranmer (Canadian 1935-2009) Ceramic Pot decorated with Kwakiutl Raven, signed on base "Cranmer". Size: 3 1/2 h x 5 w x 5 d in. P20721*

*Alberta Cleland (Canadian 1876-1960) ‘Snowy Landscape’ oil on canvas, signed lower right. Provenance: Cleland family through descent. Size: 32 x 36 in J17250*

*Siegfried (Siggy) Rudolph Puchta (Canadian b. 1933) ‘Gopher’ Bronze on soapstone base, with label on bottom numbered 211/500. Size: 4 1/4 h x 3 w x 2 d in. P20606*

*Leo Mol (Ukrainian/Canadian born 1915) ‘Inuk Boy with Sled & Dog’ porcelain figure, inscribed on bottom "Mol Leo 55 Canada" Size: 7 1/2 h in E20608*

Willard Morse Mitchell (Canadian 1881-1955) ‘The Chateau De Ramezay’ Miniature watercolour in original hand carved frame, signed lower right "WMM", inscribed on reverse.. Size: 2 x 2 ½ in. J20161

Willard Mitchell was born in Saint John, New Brunswick and was active in Montreal as an artist and architect from 1927 to 1943. Working in oil, watercolour and ink, he is known for his miniature landscapes and streetscapes of rural Quebec and Montreal, carving his own frames and often placed a brief note on the back. His watercolours were well done and were well received, often as popular gifts. He travelled to Nova Scotia, Italy and Greece and exhibited with the Art Association of Montreal in 1927 and 1928. Mitchell died at the age of 74 and was survived by his wife Ethel Corinna Harris Mitchell.

The miniature above features an inscription on the reverse "THE CHATEAU DE RAMEZAY” which was the most prominent feature remaining of early Montreal from when it was a small settlement. The Chateau was built in 1705 by Claude de Ramezay who was appointed Governor in 1703, and in 1775 it was the Headquarters of the Continental Army under Montgomery. Today it is a historical museum.

*Gailan Ngan (Canadian Born 1971) ‘Nest Of Four Bowls’ Asymmetrical stoneware bowls with white glaze to exterior and white glaze dripping over green glaze interior. ZE20297*

Born on Hornby Island, B.C., Gailan Ngan graduated from Emily Carr University in 2002. Her practice includes pottery and sculpture working with slips and clays sourced both commercially and gathered from nature. She is known for her ceramic forms with a singular contour line, fusing layers of accumulated textures and colors and researching glazes made from rare earth metals. She works out of her Vancouver studio as well as her late father Wayne Ngan’s studio on Hornby Island. Gailan has been shown at Art Los Angeles Contemporary, Cooper Cole, The Apartment,

San Diego Institute, Centre A, Western Front, Nanaimo Art Gallery, Art Gallery at Evergreen, Kamloops Art Gallery, the Museum of Anthropology, the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Monte Clark Gallery. She is represented in numerous collections including the Helen and Morris Belkin Gallery at UBC. She won the North West Ceramic Foundation Award in 2015.