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Jardinière 

After a massive fire in 1916 destroyed much of the original building that housed Parliament, a renowned Montréal craftsman named Paul Beau was hired to lead the production of decorative iron fixtures and objects for the new building, Centre Block.

The pieces that Mr. Beau’s team crafted include hand-wrought railings, light fixtures, fireplace sets and this brass jardinière — a French term for a planter or a box that holds flowerpots. The maker’s tag on the inside of the jardinière identifies the iron master’s workshop: “P. Beau & Co. Montreal.”

A leading Canadian figure in the Arts and Crafts movement, Mr. Beau embraced the movement’s ideal that functional items should also be beautiful and express the maker’s artistry. In this vein, the jardinière features a twisted edge and a dolphin-tail pattern. Mr. Beau’s work can be found in museums and buildings across Canada, including Saskatchewan’s legislative building.

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