The Intelligencer  •  Published Feb 25, 2026

Shaun Markey of Ottawa and Todd Coopee of Prescott have collaborated on a new book dedicated exclusively to the antiques and folk art of Eastern Ontario. Titled With Hands and Heart, the publication presents more than 100 objects drawn from the collections of ten prominent regional collectors. The majority of the featured works have never been published.

Among the artisans highlighted is William Glenworth Loney (1877–1956), a blacksmith and ironworker born in Prince Edward County who worked both locally and throughout Ontario and the United States. Loney’s work demonstrates exceptional versatility, frequently combining wood carving, paint, and metalwork within a single piece.

“Very few, if any, other folk artists in Canada possessed the technical skill and creative range of Mr. Loney,” said Markey. “He often combined carving, painted decoration, and forged elements seamlessly. His craftsmanship was extraordinary.”

An elaborate trinket box made by Loney for his sister Edith appears on the book’s cover. Markey describes it as “one of the finest pieces of Canadian folk art in existence.”

While objects from Eastern Ontario have appeared in broader publications on Canadian antiques and folk art, With Hands and Heart is the first book devoted entirely to the region.

“You’ll find Eastern Ontario pieces scattered throughout national surveys,” Markey noted, “but no one has focused exclusively on this region. That was our goal from the beginning.”

The project was conceived in the spring of 2025. Since then, Coopee and Markey have worked with Ottawa photographer Denis Savoie to document collections across Eastern Ontario. All ten participating collectors reside in the region, several in Ottawa.

The pair previously collaborated on two antiques and folk art publications. Coopee, founder of Sonderho Press, an independent publisher of nonfiction books, said the new volume aligned directly with the press’s commitment to preserving knowledge through publication.

“Over time, I’ve come to believe that collecting carries a responsibility beyond acquisition,” Coopee said. “Important objects often remain known only within private circles. By photographing, documenting, and publishing these works, we ensure their stories are preserved and made accessible. That philosophy is what made this project a natural fit for Sonderho Press.”