The Harbinson Collection

The majority of the furnishings in this section reflect the cultural roots of the two principal immigrant groups that settled in the York Region in the 1800s. Many of the earliest settlers were Pennsylvania Germans who travelled north in search of religious and cultural independence, and the furnishings they made often incorporated design features and…

The historical furnishings of the Niagara Region are noteworthy because they come from one of a few areas in Canada where, over a sixty-year period, a group of cabinetmakers developed unique regional designs in the products they made. The forms of these furnishings evolved to acknowledge changing fashions, but at their core, they still reflected…

Southwestern Ontario was settled during the 1800s by immigrants from many parts of Europe and the United States. The items in this section offer a window through which we can better see these immigrants’ cultural roots and the richness of the diversity they brought to Canada.

The Ontario Earthenware section includes a cross-section of examples from the 1800s, ranging from everyday utensils to one-of-a-kind pieces made to mark special occasions. Most earthenware was produced in small potteries by hand, with clay sourced locally, and sold into the immediate community. Over one hundred years later, the use and design of some items…

This section contains a selection of woven coverlets and blankets drawn from the Niagara and Waterloo County regions of Ontario. These two areas experienced strong population growth in the decades following the American Revolution (ending in 1783), including the arrival of many immigrants of Pennsylvania German descent with excellent weaving skills. The various coverlets and…

The historical furnishings of Canada’s Maritime provinces reflect the immigration patterns of English-speaking peoples leading up to the mid-1800s. Following the American Revolution, approximately 35,000 Loyalists travelled north to their new homes in Atlantic Canada. Many settled near Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Saint John, New Brunswick, both of which had a well-established social structure and…

The early furnishings of what is known today as Quebec were largely patterned after the prevailing styles in France as they progressed from the early 1700s through to the mid-1800s. As the colony matured, domestic preferences were incorporated into many objects. The diamond point motif, for instance, maintained its popularity for almost a century, long…

Most of the artworks chosen for this section have an Ontario provenance and date from 1834 to 1908. Although the various styles of the artists differ widely, the paintings have a broad decorative appeal, particularly from a folk art point of view. The five marine paintings also provide a historical perspective on commercial shipping on…

This section comprises a selection of items dating from the mid-1700s to the early 1900s. In each case, they provide insight into the daily lives of Canadians during this period.