BRITISH COLUMBIA ARTISTS  

Art and Framing Stores of Vancouver


ALDERSON'S FINE ARTS
ANDERS ART IN ACTION
THE ART DEN
THE ART EMPORIUM
BAILEY & NEELANDS ART & STATIONERY STORE
SIDNEY BAKER PICTURE FRAMING
BAU-XI GALLERY
THE HUDSONS BAY COMPANY
BC FIGURE WORKS
BELL'S ART STORE
J.C. BISHOP/BISHOP & CHRISTIE
CAMERA AND ARTS LTD.
THE CLARKE & STUART CO. LTD.
DAVID CLIFFORD GALLERY
CONTINENTAL ARTS
DE VOOGHT GALLERIES LTD
THE DOWNSTAIRS GALLERY
EASTMAN KODAK STORES LTD.
EQUINOX GALLERY
EROS GALLERY
THE FRAME SHOP
ALEX FRASER GALLERIES
GALLOWAY-DORBILS GALLERY
HARDIMAN'S PIONEER ART GALLERY
HUGHES STUDIO
THE KENSINGTON ARTS
JAMES LEYLAND'S FINE ART GALLERY
MALICK STUDIOS
MIDO FRAMERS
J.Y. MILLER
MONTGOMERY FINE ART SERVICES
NAPIER'S POLYCHROME ART SHOP
PETLEY JONES GALLERY
PHOTO-ARTS LTD.
THE RICHMOND ARTS LTD.
DAVID SPENCER LTD.
VANCOUVER ART GALLERY
VANCOUVER ART GALLERY
WESTERN ART CIRCLE
WOODWARD'S LTD.

The Vancouver Art Association was founded in 1889, and promptly mounted a loan exhibition. The following year they put on a significantly larger exhibition in the Lefevre Block on Hastings Street. There were an amazing 338 artworks listed in the exhibition catalogue. The catalogue was professionally printed and extensive in scope. It listed all of the paintings in the show, and their owners, had pages of programmes for a wide range of festivities connected to the art show, and had numerous advertisements.

Two of these advertisements were for art and framing stores: Theo. R. Hardiman's Pioneer Art Gallery, and Bailey & Neelands Art & Stationery Store. Later in the 1890s the The Art Emporium opened. As art and framing shops still do today, the early stores also hosted exhibitions.

The local framing shops are almost inextricably connected to the art of early Vancouver - many hundreds or thousands of paintings remain encapsulated in their early framing jobs. In many cases the shops had stickers that were applied to the back of the completed frame. These provide history and meaning to the artwork in the frame, along with any exhibition labels, job numbers, scribbled measurements, and notations by different owners of the artwork. The labels can also help date the artwork.

Editor's note: the galleries are listed alphabetically. The list is not intended to be complete and comprehensive, but is simply information that the Editor has compiled.




ALDERSON'S FINE ARTS

Alderson's originally took over from the Richmond Arts (see below) at 919 Robson Street in approximately 1955. By 1968 they had relocated to Park Royal shopping centre in West Vancouver. Refer also to Greater Vancouver Art Galleries. Images courtesy private collections.



ANDERS ART IN ACTION

Refer also to Greater Vancouver Art Galleries. This label is on a framed photolithographic print by J. Anderson dating from around 1979. Finn Slough was a very interesting place when I was in high school. A little foot bridge linked the dyke road to the island, and a footpath led to what were essentially squatter's shacks, hanging over the edge of the island above the slough. I was there one night for a party, it was during a storm, you could hear water sloshing under the floorboards. We stayed all night playing guitars by candlelight, or snoozing on pillows.



THE ART DEN

The Art Den is listed in the 1925 City Directory as an art dealer at 2410 Granville Street, proprietor J.H. Johnston. The 1927 City Directory notes their business as "pictures."



THE ART EMPORIUM

The Art Emporium is claimed to have opened in 1897. A store of that name continued to operate in Vancouver until 2023, when its owner Torben Christiansen passed away. The 1905 City Directory lists Alfred Shipley as a picture framer at 901 West Georgia Street. In 1916 and 1917 J.Y. Miller (see below) was listed as Proprietor of the Art Emporium, while living at 1161 Granville Street. He remained as Proprietor until 1926 when Harry Hood took over the store and operated it until 1948. In 1929 the store moved to 1103 Robson Street, where it remained until at least 1955. In 1949 Frederick J. Michell took over as Proprietor, running it until at least 1955.


Framing label c1916

The Art Emporium advertised in the exhibition catalogue of the First Annual Exhibition of the B.C. Society of Fine Arts in 1909:

     The Art Emporium
     Picture Framing in Artistic Styles
     901 - 905 Georgia St. Vancouver


Framing label 1936, courtesy private collection


A 1972 advertisement



BAILEY & NEELANDS ART & STATIONERY STORE

Bailey & Neelands advertised in the 1890 exhibition catalogue for the 1st Annual Exhibition of the Vancouver Art Association. The advertisement provided the following information:

     BAILEY & NEELANDS ART & STATIONERY STORE
     For Picture framing, Mouldings, Engravings, Books and Stationery
     Views of Vancouver, Oil Paintings of Local Scenery
     N.B. - We carry the finest assortment of Mouldings in B.C.
         and give special attention to framing and mounting pictures.
     176 Cordova Street, near Cambie Street, Vancouver, B.C.



SIDNEY BAKER PICTURE FRAMING

Sidney Baker operated a picture and framing store at 510 Hornby Street, Vancouver, from at least 1940 to 1950. Henderson's Directory for 1940 gives her name as Sid Beatrice Baker, living at 2005 Comox Street as well as having the business on Hornby. The directory for 1945 gives her name as Sidney Constance Baker, living and working at the same addresses. In 1950 the business address was 510 Hornby Street. This stamp above is on the back of a print titled "Grey Stragglers over Peggy's Cove," titled and signed on the matte "Hornyansky." Hornyansky did at least four aquatints of Vancouver, and died in 1965.



BAU-XI GALLERY

The Bau-Xi Gallery was founded at 555 Hamilton Street in Vancouver in 1964 by artist Bau-Xi Huang, also known as Paul Wong.

The Hamilton Street address is crossed-out on the 1969 framing label below:

The gallery moved to South Granville Street in 1972 and has been successfully putting on exhibitions there since. They expanded to Toronto as well, per the following label.

Refer also to Bau-Xi Gallery Artist Catalogue, and to Greater Vancouver Art Galleries for additional information and extensive list of artist exhibitions.



THE HUDSONS BAY COMPANY

This stamp is from an artwork framed in 1975. I can't remember if the Hudson's Bay Company had a store in the Brighouse Mall in Richmond where we were living, or if this was framed at the Bay in downtown Vancouver.



BC FIGURE WORKS

Per the City Directory, BC Figure Works was active in 1954, at 2149 Commercial Drive, Mrs. Irene E. Knezevich, proprietor. They made and sold wall plaques. See also Continental Arts.



BELL'S ART STORE

Bell's Art Store was listed in the City Directories in 1918-19, from 1921 to 1923, and in 1926.



J.C. BISHOP/BISHOP & CHRISTIE

J.C. Bishop advertised in the exhibition catalogue of the First Annual Exhibition of the B.C. Society of Fine Arts in 1909:

     J.C. Bishop - Dealer in Works of Art
     A full line of artists' materials, modelling clay, Hasbutt's Plasticine, Lay Figures, etc.
     A large stock of Engravings, Etchings, Carbons, Nature Prints, Water Colors, Oils, etc.
     We Frame Pictures Correctly and in a Perfect Manner.
     J.C. Bishop 421 Granville Street.

By 1919 the store was known as Bishop & Christie, "The Kodak House."



CAMERA AND ARTS LTD.

Camera and Arts advertised in the The Paint Box in at least two different issues, with two different names (see also Eastman Kodak Stores Ltd.) Under the name of Camera and Arts they advertised the following:

     Artists' Colors, Brushes, Canvas, Whatman Papers, Pastels
     Picture Framing
     610 Granville Street, Vancouver. Phone Sey. 4845

The 1920 Henderson's City Directory notes R.P. Dunne as the proprietor, they were selling photo supplies. The 1925 Directory notes "Ralph P. Dunne, Manager, Kodaks, Printing & Developing, Picture Framing, Artists' Materials." Not listed in Wrigley's 1930 BC Directory.


Advertisement in Wrigley-Henderson's Amalgamated 1925 Directory



THE CLARKE & STUART CO. LTD.

The Clarke & Stuart Co. advertised in the premier issue of School Days magazine in October 1919. They also advertised in the Provincial Normal School's 1918-1919 school annual, the store was at 320 Seymour Street.

The company later advertised in the art school's student annual The Paint Box, June 1927, page sixty. The store was at 550 Seymour Street by then, and the advertisement stated

     Water Colors - Brushes - Pencils - Drawing Boards
     Saucers - Charcoal - Crayons - Drawing Pads and Blocks
     The Clarke & Stuart Co. Limited
     Stationers, Printers, Artist Supplies
     550 Seymour Street - - - - Vancouver B.C.

They advertised again in the 1930 issue of The Paint Box, at the same address.



DAVID CLIFFORD GALLERY

These two labels are undated, courtesy of the Burnaby Art Gallery. These are not related to David Clifford of Blackstone Press, Granville Island.



CONTINENTAL ARTS

This label is loose, and is not dated. Per the City Directory, Continental Arts opened for business in 1955 at 6460 Fraser Street, Mrs. Irene E. Knezevich, proprietor. They did picture framing and sold artist supplies. See also B.C. Figure Works.



DE VOOGHT GALLERIES LTD

Although this is a later framing label from the 1970s, it is interesting because the owner also is noted to have operated the Gallery of the Golden Key. This label is for a Ken Danby multi-colour serigraph dated 1970. Refer also to Greater Vancouver Art Galleries.



THE DOWNSTAIRS GALLERY

This gallery is noted as being active in the late 1970s and early 1980s, although exact dates are not known.



EASTMAN KODAK STORES LTD.

Eastman Kodak Stores Ltd. advertised in the June 1928 and the 1930 issues of The Paint Box, and in a different issue as Camera and Arts, Ltd.. Under the name of Eastman Kodak they advertised the following:

     Artists' Colors, Brushes, Canvas, Whatman Papers, Pastels
     Picture Framing
     610 Granville Street, Vancouver. Phone Sey. 4845



EQUINOX GALLERY

The Equinox Gallery opened in 1971 at this address on Robson Street, moved to Great Northern Way, and most recently to Commercial Drive. Refer also to Greater Vancouver Art Galleries.



EROS GALLERY

The EROS Gallery operated at 2233 Granville St. from around 1979 to 1982, dates are not confirmed.



THE FRAME SHOP

A label on the back of a linocut print dated 1939 by Bessie Adelaide Fry contained the following information:
     The Frame Shop
     H.E. Lawson
     Telephone 1518
     326-6th St. - New Westminster

The following label is from a later date, with the shop at a different address on Sixth Street.



ALEX FRASER GALLERIES

Alex Fraser moved to Vancouver from London, England, where he was "formerly of Bond Street." He and his wife Olive moved to 5677 Granville Street c1944, and in 1945 were selling "pictures" at that address, according to BC Directories for 1943-45. By 1948 they had a gallery at 5669 Granville St., which they kept until 1985, when they moved the gallery to West 41 Ave. In the mid-1990s they sold the gallery to Linda Lando.

A label on the back of an early watercolour by Edith Fanny Kirk, presumably framed in the 1940s or perhaps 1950s.
    



GALLOWAY-DORBILS GALLERY

This gallery was at 942 Granville Street in 1944, operated by William Dorbil. He was noted that year for hosting a "salon de refuses" for artists whose work was not accepted to the annual B.C. Artists exhibition at the Vancouver Art Gallery. See also "ARTIST REBELS OPEN OWN SHOW" for newspaper review.

The 1944 City Directory lists them as "Galloway-Dorbils Established 1896. W. Howett, Proprietor. Technical and General Books. 940-942 Granville. Phone MA 7914. (See Class. Advt., Booksellers)."



HARDIMAN'S PIONEER ART GALLERY

Theophilus Richard Hardiman arrived in Port Moody in 1886, two weeks before the first train arrived in Vancouver. He immediately opened Hardiman's Pioneer Art Gallery at 522 Cordova Street. For a while he also sold music from the store. By 1892 the store was located at 622-626 Cordova Street, one block west of the original location.

One of the first artists to show local artwork at the Pioneer Gallery was Tomhu Huron Roberts, who had arrived in Vancouver the year before.

Hardiman advertised in the 1890 exhibition catalogue for the 1st Annual Exhibition of the Vancouver Art Association. Hardiman also loaned a few paintings to the exhibition. The advertisement provided the following information:

     Theo. R. Hardiman
     Pioneer Art Gallery, 522 Cordova Street
     Opposite C.P.R. Station
     Carving, Gilding and Picture Framing
     Ten thousand feet of moulding to select from

     Representative for British Columbia of Art Union, of London. Patron Her Majesty Queen Victoria
     President Right Hon. Earl of Derby, K.G.
     Vice-Presidents: Right Hon. Viscount Hardinge; Right Hon. Lord Emly


     W.E. LOCKHART'S, R.S.A., GREAT JUBILEE PICTURE
     Will be on exhibition at the above gallery shortly
     The Times describing the scene in Westminster Abbey says: "A noble picture, around
     and above wherever the eye turns, a resplendent ten thousand, destined it may be to a record no
     less enduring in the world's annals than that of the army of Xenophon."

     THEO R. HARDIMAN, ART DEALER, 522 CORDOVA ST., VANCOUVER B.C.

Hardiman held his "First Annual Art Show and Sale" at the gallery in July 1892, according to an article in the Vancouver Daily World, July 14 1892.

In 1891 Edward Brothers Photographers had a studio in the Pioneer Gallery. Artists also took up studio space in the venue.



HUGHES STUDIO

R.J. Hughes had a photo studio in Trail from 1922 to 1931. From 1932 to 1935 he operated The Hughes Studio in Vancouver at 2113 West 41st Avenue. His marketing slogan was "Secure the shadow ere the substance fades." This framing stamp is on the back of an early Maud Rees Sherman watercolour, and reads:
    Hughes Studio
    High Class Portraits and Picture Framing
    Expert Kodak Finishing
    2113 West 41st Ave. Phone KErr. 2878
    Vancouver, B.C.


A framing stamp from 1932-35



THE KENSINGTON ARTS

The Kensington Arts store at 1056 Robson Street was operated by Percy James and his wife Myra. James was born in Ontario in 1875, and arrived in Vancouver in 1929 to open the store. The James also lived at that address. The store was in business there until 1950, at which time they were selling "pictures and china" according to the City Directory.

There is no Directory listing for Kensington Arts in 1951, but from 1952 to at least 1955 the store was at 4603 West 10th Avenue doing "pictures and framing." James died a widower in Vancouver in 1960. His death certificate noted that he had been an Art Dealer all of his life except for the final week, so he must have worked in this profession prior to arriving in BC.


An early framing label, courtesy Allan Collier



JAMES LEYLAND'S FINE ART GALLERY

James Leyland's gallery advertised in The Paint Box, June 1926, page thirty-eight, and again in the June 1928 issue on page seventy-two. His gallery was at 609 Dunsmuir Street, and his advertisement claimed that it was "always worth a visit", that "Exhibitions are held from time to time", and that "We Frame Pictures As They Should Be Framed". He was also an artist.

He also advertised in the 1930 issue of The Paint Box, at the same address, with the saying "Let's See What LEYLAND Has in His Window!".


An early framing label


An early framing label


A 1926 advertisement



MALICK STUDIOS

This stamp is from an artwork framed in 1970.



MIDO FRAMERS

This is a fairly recent label, but undated. The gold foil background did not scan very well. Courtesy Burnaby Art Gallery.



J.Y. MILLER

Joseph Y. Miller started to advertise himself as a Vancouver picture framer in 1913, according to BC directories. In 1913 he lived at the same address as his framing store at 1175 East 14th Avenue, Vancouver, but in 1914 he moved his residence to 1457 East 13th Ave. In 1915 he was back living at 1175 East 14th. In 1916 and 1917 he was listed as Proprietor of the Art Emporium (see above), while living at 1161 Granville Street. From 1917 to 1925 he again had his own business, listed as J.Y. Miller, "pictures, etc." He lived at 901 West Georgia Street from 1923 to 1925. After that neither he nor his business are listed in the directories. See also Art Emporium label.



MONTGOMERY FINE ART SERVICES

An undated loose label, courtesy of the Burnaby Art Gallery. The unpublished Greater Vancouver Art Gallery Timeline, Geography, & History 1954-2012 notes that Montgomery Fine Art was at 76 West Cordova Street in the early to mid-1990s.



NAPIER'S POLYCHROME ART SHOP

This is a scan of an advertisement for Napier's Polychrome Art Shop, that was published in The Paint Box in 1926.



PETLEY JONES GALLERY

The Petley-Jones Gallery was at the West 57th address from 1986 to 1988, then at 2235 Granville Street from 1988 to 2010 per label below; then to 1554 West 6th Ave. from 2010 to 2018; and to 2245 Granville Street in 2018.



PHOTO-ARTS LTD.

The Photo-Arts Limited advertised in The Call of the Coast, 1928. BC directories list the business at 573 Hornby Street, Vancouver, in 1932.



Pioneer Art Gallery - see Hardiman's Pioneer Gallery



THE RICHMOND ARTS LTD.

The Richmond Arts Limited opened in 1917 at 923 Robson Street in Vancouver, where they remained until 1927. From 1928 to 1932 the store was at 787 Hornby Street, and from 1934 until at least 1955 they were at 919 Robson Street.

Richmond Arts advertised in The Paint Box, June 1926, page forty-two. Frank Ward Holliday and W.H. Manning were listed in the advertisement, the telephone number was Seymour 2939, the address at 923 Robson Street. Art supplies listed were "pictures, picture framing, artists materials, Kodaks, and china paints".

F.W. Holliday remained manager of the store until 1950. From 1951 onward Doug Alderson took over from him. In 1951 they were also listed at 868 Park Royal as well.


Label c1925

Richmond Arts advertised again in the June 1928 issue of The Paint Box, but this time the advertisement did not list Holliday or Manning. The same list of art supplies was given, but framed mirrors were additionally offered.

Richmond Arts advertised again in the 1930 issue of The Paint Box, their address now listed as 787 Hornby Street (at Robson), Phone. Sey.(mour) 2939. They now listed "etchings, mezzo tints, pictures, picture framing, artists' materials, china paints".

A 1933 prospectus-style flyer for the B.C. College of Arts noted that "enquiries to be mailed to F.H. Varley Studio c/o Richmond Arts, Hornby Street."

A Richmond Arts framing label on the back of an undated linocut print by Bessie Adelaide Fry dating from around 1951 had the additional name of Alderson Galleries Ltd., address 868 Park Royal, telephone number WEST 2233 on it. Richmond Arts was then at 919 Robson Street, telephone number MU 5425. The label advertised "Pictures", "Art Supplies", and "Picture Framing Specialists". Another variation on the label is shown below, where the West Vancouver gallery is not listed.

A third and probably later variation of the framing label below, actual size is 5/8" high x 2-5/8" wide.



DAVID SPENCER LTD.

David Spencer built a large "department" store on Hastings Street in Vancouver, at one point expanding to occupy almost the entire city block where S.F.U. Harbourside is now situated.


A 1916 Spencer framing label.


1926 advertisement in The Paint Box


Framing label for Spencer's 1936 B.C. Artists' Golden Jubilee Exhibition
Courtesy West Vancouver Archives


Framing label for Spencer's 1936 B.C. Artists' Golden Jubilee Exhibition
Courtesy Melanie Hardbattle.

The store also sold the work of local artists and artisans. Maud Sherman painted small watercolour / pen and ink greeting cards for the store in the 1930s, as well as carved and painted wood brooches depicting birds and animals.


The Spencer "Diamond S" logo.

Refer also to David Spencer Ltd. Department Stores.



VANCOUVER ART GALLERY


Gallery framing label.

The Vancouver Art Gallery operated at 905 Granville Street in 1922 to 1923, per Directory listings. This gallery has no connection to the current Vancouver Art Gallery, which it preceded by almost a decade. The Gallery shared the space with N.G. Foster Wallpapers, who had occupied the address since 1915. Although the label names Bertram Charles Hersey (b England 1879, arr BC 1910, d Burnaby 1955) as the proprietor, the directories list Mrs. Bertram C. Hersey as proprietoress (also as Mrs. E.M. Hersey, born Edith Mills Scott).

Bertram's employment was variously listed in the directories as news stand clerk, news stand manager, second-hand goods dealer, antiques dealer, cabinetmaker, proprietor of Dunbar Carpet Cleaning, and finally retired as a furniture upholsterer in 1955. Hersey also moved his home a number of times, living at 1314 West 7th, 1942 West 8th, 1058 Pacific, 3563 Heather, 4294 Dunbar (all in Vancouver), and finally 6921 Jubilee Avenue in Burnaby after his retirement.



VANCOUVER ART GALLERY

The current Vancouver Art Gallery opened in 1931 at 1145 West Georgia Street, and expanded in 1951 to 1155 West Georgia Street. Their first major exhibition was the 1932 All-Canadian Exhibition, followed by their first annual B.C. Artists' exhibition.


What remains of a framing label for the 1932 B.C. Artists' First Annual exhibition.
Courtesy West Vancouver Archives


Rare 1932 BC Artists' exhibition submission label.


Even rarer 1932 art gallery artwork submission tag.



WESTERN ART CIRCLE


A mid-1950s framing label for Amelia Carr (q.v.)



WOODWARD'S LTD.

Woodward's was an early B.C. department store that later sold out to Eaton's.


Woodward's logo c1930.


Woodward's logo (undated).


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