Allure of the Clay - Vernon, British Columbia
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T0SHEA
N 50° 15.824 W 119° 16.232
11U E 338177 N 5570420
Allure of the Clay Artistically Decorated Utility Box is located in a small garden space at the SE corner of 30th Avenue and 30th Street.
Waymark Code: WMT6EA
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Date Posted: 10/03/2016
Views: 1
This Artistically Decorated Utility Box features the amazing potter Axel Ebring. A large portrait of Axel Ebring is the primary feature on the front side, and examples of his pottery is on the back side.
Interestingly, there is a large mural of Axel Ebring and his pottery on the side of OK West Realty building on 32nd street.
Allure of the Clay - Mural:
Axel Ebring was born near Stockholm, Sweden, in 1874. His father and grandfather were both potters and Axel was exposed to the potters’ trade at a very early age. When he was about eighteen he immigrated to the United States where he tackled many demanding jobs.
By the late 1920’s had settled in an area known as Notch Hill. He established a small farm and fate would have it, he discovered a clay deposit that was suitable for making pottery.
He built a kick wheel and kiln and returned to his craft. Soon people in the region discovered the beauty and charm of his work.
In the mid 1930’s Morris Middleton, owner of a large ranch in southeast Vernon, brought Ebring a sample of malleable clay from a small section of his ranch. Axel purchased two acres of land from Mr. Middleton.
By 1937, Axel Ebring moved to Vernon, set up a potter’s studio, and built a small house below the hillside from his new clay deposit.
Axel Ebring died in 1954 at the age of 80. He never married.