Secrets of Silver: An Exhibition of Sterling Treasures and Stories

N.S. MUSEUM--Secrets of Silver: An Exhibition of Sterling Treasures and Stories

Secrets of Silver, an exhibition featuring the works of Carl Poul Petersen, is on display at the Museum of Natural History.

The focal point of the exhibition is a sensational collection of hand-made sterling by Petersen (1895-1977), one of Canada's foremost 20th century silversmiths. Petersen was at the centre of modern silver design in Canada for nearly three decades. His creations are elegant, intricate and meticulously crafted.

Employing traditional techniques, his work is admired for the quality of execution, strong lines, simplistic beauty and modernistic forms which are often adorned with insects, birds, flowers, fruit and leaves. He is also famous for the redesign of the Stanley Cup in 1962. Maurice "Rocket" Richard's miniature Stanley Cup is on display at the museum.

"The exhibition has been enriched with more than 100 exceptional examples of silversmiths' art from Nova Scotia collections, such as the Queen Anne communion service made in 1711," said Alex Wilson, the museum's manager of interpretation. "This is a rare opportunity to see this valued possession of historic St. Paul's Church in Halifax."

Visitors will be drawn to other treasures as well. A simple chalice made in 1633 is possibly the oldest piece of Scottish silver in North America. Collectors will marvel at a remarkable collection of silver coins and medals. Sports fans will find a spectacular show of silver trophies awarded for marksmanship, rowing, baseball, sailing, snowshoeing, curling, track and field and swimming. There are two Olympic silver medals on display too.

"There are some amazing pieces in the display. I was most impressed by the productive silver manufacturing studio that Petersen was able to create and foster," said Kye Yeon Son, professor of jewellery design and metal working at NSCAD University. "His work and business reflects how fine utilitarian sterling continued to play a significant role in the late 20th century."

The Carl Poul Petersen exhibition comes from the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and is supported by the Museums Assistance Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage. The exhibit, with about 70 magnificent pieces by Petersen will be on display until Feb. 22, 2004.

The Museum of Natural History is located at 1747 Summer St., Halifax. For more information call 424-3563 or see the museum's website at http://nature.museum.gov.ns.ca . General admission is charged.