Material Type

Artifact

Other Name

SUNBURST CASSEROLE DISH

Date Range From

1975

Materials

POTTERY

No. Pieces

2

Height

11.5

Diameter

23.0

Description

DISH, CASSEROLE WITH LID. THE ROUND DISH AND LID ARE BROWN GLAZED INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. THE DISH HAS SMALL RECTANGULAR HANDLES, MEASURING 2.5 X 4.5 CM. ON THE BOTTOM IS THE SUNBURST DESIGN AND "SUNBURST, CANADA, OVENPROOF". THE LID FITS INTO THE RIDGE OF THE DISH. THERE IS A ROUND BROWN AND WHITE HANDLE ON TOP OF THE LID. THE COLOR OF THE THE LID IS A LIGHTER BROWN THAN THE DISH.

Subjects

FOOD SERVICE T&E

FOOD PROCESSING T&E

Historical Association

DOMESTIC

INDUSTRY

History

THE SUNBURST STORE WENT OUT OF BUSINESS IN 1975. THE DONOR PURCHASED A NUMBER OF ITEMS, INCLUDING THIS CASSEROLE DISH, AT THE CLOSING OUT SALE IN LETHBRIDGE (NORTH?) STORE. THE DISH WAS USED BY MRS. BROWN. MANY ITEMS THAT WERE PURCHASED ARE STILL BEING USED BY MRS. BROWN AND HER SISTER. FOR MORE HISTORY ON SUNBURST COMPANY OPERATION, SEE P19960004001-GA AND PERMANENT FILE. IN 1960, A LETHBRIDGE BUSINESSMAN RALPH THRALL FOUNDED SUNBURST CERAMICS. A NUMBER OF PROMINENT ALBERTA STUDIO POTTERS WORKED AT SUNBURST, WHERE THEY DEVELOPED VARIOUS LINES OF ARTWARE. HOWEVER, THEY WERE FRUSTRATED BY THE PRODUCTION SCHEDULE WHICH LEFT LITTLE ROOM FOR NEW DESIGN WORK. THRALL RELIED ON THE COMMERCIAL SUCCESS OF CROCKS AND MIXING BOWLS, AND SEEMED RELUCTANT TO TRY MORE CREATIVE DESIGNS. HE INVESTED HEAVILY IN UPGRADING THE PLANT’S MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT, BUT FINALLY REALIZED THAT THE OLD FACTORY WAS NOT SUITED TO MODERN PRODUCTION. IN 1966 HE RELOCATED THE COMPANY TO NEW PREMISES IN LETHBRIDGE, WHERE SUNBURST OPERATED UNTIL 1975. MUCH OF THE ORIGINAL MACHINERY AND THE OLD MEDALTA MOULDS WERE ACQUIRED BY ANOTHER POTTERY. MEDALTA (1966) LTD. WHICH SET UP IN REDCLIFF. THERE, SEVERAL FORMER MEDALTA EMPLOYEES REVIVED THE PRODUCTION OF CROCKS, MIXING BOWLS AND TEAPOTS. THE COMPANY FINALLY WENT OUT OF BUSINESS IN 1986. THRALL SOLD THE MEDALTA PLANT TO EARTHEX RESOURCES IN 1976, A REAL ESTATE AND INVESTMENT FIRM WHICH PROMOTED THE SITE AS INDUSTRIAL AND WAREHOUSE SPACE. IN 1990, THE CITY OF MEDICINE HAT ACQUIRED THE PROPERTY AND LEASED IT TO THE FRIENDS OF MEDALTA SOCIETY.

Catalogue Number

P20000056000

Acquisition Date

2000-12

Collection

Museum

Less detail