Alice Hagen. Jardinière with Mi’kmaq Portraits 1901. French porcelain handpainted in enamel, overglaze and gilt, 20.5 x 29.2 cm. MSVU Collection.
The painted decoration includes a portrait of the 19th-century Mi’kmaq artist Christina Morris. Alice Hagen copied the portrait from a version of the original painting by William Valentine. The Jardiniere is also known as the Christina Morris Bowl. Since most patterns copied by china painters originated outside the province, Hagen’s choice of a Nova Scotian subject was unusual. She emphasizes the Nova Scotian theme by flanking the portrait with pitcher plants, a species native to this region.
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