Paulette Gasser

Information on the Works of Paulette Gasser

This reader letter was the start of a fascinating story which allowed The Artful Crafter to put an artist in touch with a collector who acquired some of her pieces 30 years after they were created.

"Bonjour Eileen,

I am looking for information about a set of stoneware ceramic (pitcher, cups, plate) marked Souvenir Ordre des Agronomes Province de Québec, 1977, and signed Paulette Gasser. On what specific occasion would this have been made? Was this a unique set?

Thanks,
Jean-Pierre"

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We contacted the artist, who is a personal friend and occasional contributor to The Artful Crafter.

She went through her 1977 diary and found an entry on March 31 which stated that she and her husband, Heinz, had attended a going away party for the then-deputy Minister of Agriculture [Quebec] Gaétan Lussier.

Monsieur Lussier had just been appointed Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Canada. He went on to several other senior government posts and moved to the private sector where he was President of Weston Bakeries and CEO of Culinar. He received an honorary doctorate in agricultural sciences from McGill University (1979), the Order of Canada in (1981) and numerous other honors.

Paulette had received a commission to make the ceramic set in question to be presented by the Ordre des Agronomes to Madame Lussier. It was at this same party that Monsieur Lussier was awarded the Ordre de Mérite Agronomique de l'Ordre des Agronomes du Québec.

Paulette had a favor to ask us in return. She and Heinz were very interested to learn where the set is now, as well as by whom and how it had been acquired. The original set included a large platter, ten wine goblets and a carafe. So we gave the creator and the collector each others' e-mail addresses.

Jean-Pierre's wife provided current info on the souvenir ceramic set ...

"My husband and I have been collecting and researching pottery pieces throughout our married lives. We just bought those nice pieces this year at an Antique and Collectible show in Chambly, QC.

We have been interested mostly in early Canadian pottery pieces (XIX Century Pottery) centering our attention on Quebec-made pieces. Since potters moved a lot we also looked into American pieces made in adjacent States.

We are members of the Trenton Pottery Association, NJ, and our local pottery museum, Le Musée du Haut-Richelieu, St-Jean, Quebec.

In recent years we have extended our collection and researches into XXth Century Pottery and are always on the lookout for lovely unique pottery/ceramic pieces. We like knowing as much as we can on the pieces themselves but also on the potters who realized those pieces.

We are looking forward to getting more details about this set, the event it commemorates and the artist herself. We will appreciate any information you can provide in this direction.

All the best,
Jacqueline and husband Jean-Pierre"

... and Heinz sent them (and us) more background about Paulette's career as a ceramicist - from Switzerland to France to Quebec to Zaire to Nigeria to Mexico. It's quite a saga.

How nice to know that Paulette's set rests in such appreciative hands.

"Paulette and I were very surprised to learn that somebody was inquiring about ceramic pieces she made such a long time ago. We also would like to know how this particular set ended up in the antique show in Chambly."

Here is more information on ceramist Paulette Gasser.