"The Four Senses" by Denise Jeffrey

14.5 x 15 x 4.5 cm

ceramic

These one-of-a-kind hand-built ceramic wall tiles feature traditional blue-and-white inlay techniques and are designed for wall display.

Artist Statement

"I had the good fortune to be Artist in Residence at MMOA at UBC in 2020. While there, I spent a great deal of time in the Koerner Gallery. One of the displays are of “stove tiles”, portrayed the “four” senses as they were understood in the late 17th and early 18th century. The four being sight, hearing, touch and smell.

Being an animal loving, I was inspired to take the same concept of sense and relate them back to the animal world. Therefore, we have the Eagle for sign, the Bat for hearing, the Racoon for touch, and the Dog for smell.

The model for the dog was my own “SPCA Special”. Special, as she had been seized by the SPCA as a young pup, after being hit by a vehicle, then left and neglected with extensive injuries including a broken leg. Special, as she became the center of our lives in 2016 with her big personality, and her goofy nature. We named this big, black, and fawn Shepard cross, Tenmoku. Tenmoku is the name of a ceramic glaze that when fired in reduction (lacking oxygen) forms a glossy black glaze that breaks with reddish highlights and occasional gray highlights.

Tenmoku passed unexpectedly late July 2026. 

Give a little time, I will be visiting the SPCA to being looking for our next “Special” family member."

Denise Jeffrey, a Burnaby-based ceramic artist.
Denise obtained a BFA from the Nova Scotia College of Art & Design in 1999, majoring in ceramics; she first established a studio near Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The recipient of numerous awards, she has exhibited her work in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Washington State and British Columbia. After moving to British Columbia, Denise became involved with the ceramics community in BC, serving as President of the Potters Guild of BC (2012-2015) and the North West Ceramics Foundation (2016-2018). She currently serves as Treasure to the NWCF. Denise also recently took on the position of President of the Blackberry Artists Society in Port Moody.