History Collection - Alice Egan Hagen’s Paint Box

Talented China Painter

A pioneer of studio pottery in Nova Scotia, Hagen was also an acclaimed china painter, a passionate teacher and a successful entrepreneur. Before she turned her hand to pottery in her 60s, she had long been accomplished in the art of china painting and lusterware glazing. She started taking china painting lessons in the 1890s and in 1896 at the age of 24 she was invited along with 15 other artists across Canada to paint a State Dinner Service for the Governor’s General’s residence. Active into her 90s, her love of colour comes through on this very personal piece – her paint box.

Object type: 
paint box, china painter’s
Object #: 
78.63.7 A,B
Collection name: 
Curator: 
Date (age/made): 
1920
Origin/place: 
Mahone Bay, NS
Materials: 
Ceramic, Ironstone