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Collections


The Gardiner Museum is one of the only museums in the world dedicated to ceramics, boasting a world-renowned collection of more than 5,000 objects.

Collections & Research

Ceramic is the term we use to describe any object, whether created for practical, ritual, or ornamental use, that is made of clay and fired. There are many different types of ceramic; each defined by its material and sometimes by the way it is decorated or fired.

The Gardiner Museum was established in 1984 by George and Helen Gardiner, whose founding collection set the pattern for the future. Rather than building an encyclopedic collection, the Gardiners focused on specific areas of ceramic excellence which they collected in depth. Their collection was divided into two principal areas: Earthenwares, represented by ceramics from the Ancient Americas (pre-colonial America), Italian Renaissance maiolica, and English delftware; and Porcelain, with a focus on European porcelain of the 18th century, including specialized collections of Commedia dell’Arte figures and scent bottles.

Over the past thirty years, the Museum’s collection has expanded its European holdings to include creamware, French faïence, and 19th-century ceramics with a focus on Minton and wares for the Canadian market. Additional important specialties include Asian, modern, and contemporary ceramics.

Collections


Porcelain figure of a leopard reclining

18th & Early 19th-Century European Porcelain


In the late 17th century, “porcelain fever” broke out in Europe. Princes and wealthy merchants were consumed by the passion to collect and use porcelain.
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Blue ceramic flask in the Japanese style

19th and Early 20th-Century Ceramics


The 19th century saw the perfection and invention of many new ceramic bodies and methods of decoration.
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Ceramic vessel in the form of a dog

Ancient Americas


Our Ancient Americas collection encompasses 47 separate cultures from the modern day American Southwest, Mexico, Central and South America.
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Chinese blue and white porcelain flask

Chinese and Japanese Ceramics


China and Japan have been mastering the art of making various forms of earthenware since the Neolithic Period.
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Maiolica plate decorated with a mythological scene

European Earthenware


Discover examples of important developments in the history of European earthenware from the 14th to the 18th centuries.
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Inuit ceramic sculpture of Sedna riding a bear

Modern & Contemporary Ceramics


Our Modern & Contemporary collection shows the remarkable breadth of styles and approaches from the postwar period to the present day, with a focus on Canadian ceramics.
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Chinese watercolour showing people gathering clay to make porcelain

Non-Ceramic Material


We also collect non-ceramic works directly related to objects in its collections, such as paintings, works on paper, and decorative arts.
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Black and silver striped ceramic sculpture of a large head

Public Art


We promote the potential of clay on a grand scale and encourage access and community engagement through the display of public art.
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Raphael Yu Centre of Canadian Ceramics


The Raphael Yu Centre of Canadian Ceramics was established to acknowledge the generosity of Raphael Yu.

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Donate to the Collection


The Gardiner Museum’s collection has continued to grow and flourish, mostly thanks to the generous donations of ceramics from collectors from around the globe.

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Research



The Gardiner Museum is dedicated to providing an enriching experience for educators, scholars, and the general public. In addition to the permanent galleries, exhibitions, and educational programming, we have a library dedicated to ceramic research available to the public. We also make available, upon request, images of our collection for commercial and non-commercial purposes in the hopes of broadening awareness about ceramic art.

Rights & Reproduction


Please contact us to inquire about obtaining and reproducing images of the collection. Unless otherwise noted, copyright of all images of the permanent collection belongs to the Gardiner Museum.

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Gail Brooker
Library


The Gail Brooker Ceramic Research Library is a comprehensive reference centre for research in the field of ceramics.

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The Gardiner Museum will close at 3 pm on Monday August 28.