A commitment to diversity and a love of Canadiana
Canadian treasures from the collection of the Honourable Jim Fleming come to auction
Jim Fleming holding the intricately carved Chinese Immigrant Equality walking stick offered as lot 314 in Miller & Miller’s October 8th auction of Canadiana & Folk Art.
When the Honourable Jim Fleming, former Canadian Minister of State for Multi-Culturalism writes his memoirs, ‘Collector of Canadiana’ will provide only one of the book’s chapters.
A number of Fleming treasures, from intricately-carved walking sticks and canoe paddles to whirligigs and finely-crafted wall shelves, will be up for auction at Miller and Miller’s Canadiana & Folk Art sale on Oct. 8, 2022.
Born and raised in Kitchener, Ontario, Jim graduated from Eastwood Collegiate and his interests leaned towards media work in the early years. Little might he have predicted that one of his first collectibles would come to him on assignment for a TV interview.
Sent by CFTO-TV to cover the arrival of rock god John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono in Toronto, young Jim was in awe of the prospect. The famous couple were on the Canadian leg of their ‘Give Peace a Chance’ tour and were staying at the home of the late rocker Rompin’ Ronnie Hawkins, north of the city. Expecting the unexpected from the mercurial Lennon, reporter Jim Fleming was instead delighted with the former Beatles’ front man’s easy demeanour.
“The interview went well. I had about an hour with him seated in front of the Hawkins’ Christmas tree. Yoko was in the kitchen most of the time.”
After the interview, John gave reporter Jim Fleming a ‘Give Peace a Chance’ poster, which he signed, adding a few cartoons of himself and Yoko. The now-faded framed poster, with the signatures almost indistinguishable (Lennon had used coloured marker), still takes a place of honour in the Fleming home.
Jim Fleming’s serious embrace of the collecting bug came on during another media assignment. Jim’s beat often saw him covering the comings and goings of then Toronto Mayor Philip Givens. Givens was a convivial chap whose interests spread far beyond politics. The mayor was a collector—carved walking sticks being his passion—and Jim was lured into the game before long.
“The treasured “Chinese Immigrant Equality” cane is described by a master carver as “one of the finest examples of a carved American walking stick”
“My wife Ilona and I started to travel to sales and shops across Ontario and into the U.S.,” he recalls. And while walking sticks were a particular interest, carved canoe paddles, knives, decorative shelves and whirligigs also caught their eyes.
One prize, a late 19th-century maple walking stick carved by American master carver R. Foster tells a powerful story. The head of this intricately-carved “Chinese Immigrant Equality” cane presents the bust of a seemingly angry Chinese immigrant above various images representing the type of employment Chinese immigrants to America were engaged in at the time. These include a barrel, knife, giblet, plow, and harness. Described by a master carver as “one of the finest examples of a carved American walking stick,” the cane also signifies Foster’s disdain for the broad racial mistreatment of the Chinese workers at the time. The Chinese Immigrant Equality walking stick is one of the treasures of Jim Fleming’s collection offered in Miller & Miller’s Oct. 8th sale.
The Chinese Immigrant Equality walking stick is one of the treasures of Jim Fleming’s collection offered in Miller & Miller’s Oct. 8th sale.
In 1972, Jim was an elected member of parliament for the Toronto York Riding. A loyal supporter of Liberal Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, he was promoted as a Cabinet Minister as Minister of State for Multiculturalism. He speaks proudly about his role. “We assisted in gaining formal recognition of Canada’s diversity…. Our work was pivotal in protecting racial and ethnic minorities in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms”. A number of Jim Fleming’s Canadiana acquisitions reflect his commitment to Canada’s diversity, especially with respect to Canada’s Indigenous Peoples.
Another Fleming prize in Miller & Miller’s Folk Art & Canadiana Sale is a 19th-century Iroquois/Christian Resurrection cane. With a handle carved in the form of a beaver, it’s extensively carved with figures under a tree, including a bird, rooster, Christ on the cross, snake, turtle, lizards and fish. This cane is estimated to reach as high as $6,000.
This 19th-century Iroquois/Christian Resurrection cane is offered as lot 315 in the sale.
Now 83, the Honourable Jim Fleming admits he’s still collecting. However, bidders at Miller & Miller’s October 8th Canadiana & Folk Art sale will reap the benefits of this Honourable Canadian’s keen eye for great folk art.
By Nancy Silcox
Nancy Silcox, of New Hamburg, is a former teacher and university counsellor. She has written 14 books, most of them historical biographies.
AUCTION DETAILS:
Canadiana & Folk Art
Featuring the Jim Fleming, Susan Murray and Marty Osler Collections
October 8, 2022. 9am EST.
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