This is a medium sized plate, white, with two lines of gold around the rim. In the centre of the plate there is a line drawing image of the David Dunlap Observatory telescope dome building. Around this image, it says, “David Dunlap Observatory, Richmond Hill, Ont. 50th Anniversary, 1985.”
Accession Number: 2019.ast.218 (DAA-0067)
David Dunlap Observatory Commemorative Plate
Primary Materials: China, Metal: Gold
Stamped on the rear of the plate:
“UNICORN TABLEWARE
EST.1835
MADE IN ENGLAND
A”
“MADE IN ENGLAND
DECORATED IN CANADA
CREEMORE CHINA & GLASS
CREEMORE, ONT.”
Dimensions (cm): Diameter = 22.5, Height = 2.3
This commemorative plate was produced for the David Dunlap Observatory’s 50th Anniversary in 1950. It was likely subsequently used as part of the tea/food service items that the Observatory had.
Excellent: The plate is very dirty, but is otherwise in good condition. The gold rim is worn in places.
Associated Instruments:
Plate: Unicorn Tableware; Decoration: Creemore China & Glass
Date of Manufacture: 1984-1985
This commemorative plate was produced for the David Dunlap Observatory’s 50th Anniversary in 1985.
Until 2009, when the Observatory was sold, the plate was kept at the Observatory. Then, it was moved to storage at the Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics at the University of Toronto’s St George campus. In 2017, the plate was moved to a new location in the McLennan Physics building.
Additional Information and References:
The celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the David Dunlap Observatory was held on May 31st, 1985. This plate was produced in commemoration of the date, along with a commemorative booklet which was created by then-Professor John Percy.
Percy recalls the celebrations:
“[T]hat day turned out to be absolutely horrendous weather. There was a serious tornado that killed several people in Barrie. So all day it looked as if there was no way we could hold our celebration in the evening, because among other things in the evening we’re going to have the Hart House Chorus come along around the catwalk to do their singing. But miraculously at about 6:00 p.m. the clouds completely cleared away! And so we had our evening of celebration and the Hart House Chorus [https://hhchorus.wixsite.com/harthousechorus] was there and everything went just fine. That’s certainly something I remember. We had a number of events connected with the 50th anniversary and I was pretty much involved in all of them.”
John Percy was interviewed on March 11, 2021.