Featured What can you tell me about this Australian-themed inkstand?

Dear all--

I'd love any information you can pass my way on this inkstand. I'd love to know who might have made it, for example, and what it's age might be.

I am pretty sure it is silver plate or even gilt--I haven't cleaned it yet. I know it's missing the carved emu egg and fittings that would've sat on top of the ferns/palm tree in the centre (what a shame, right?! But I still think it's a wonderful thing!). The inkwells are heavy and appear to be crystal (although I could be wrong about this). I think it may also be missing a larger wooden base. The "ground" on which the inkwells stand used to be a yellow or gold velvet-like fabric, but it's not very, very faded and thread bare. The person I bought it from in the U.S. says it was acquired in the 1970s in Australia.

There are no marks anywhere on the piece or the inkwells that I can find. Thanks in advance for your help!

 

@Shangas

 

What a wonderful fun thing.

 

Bohemian

 

How cool is that? (!!!) I see what you mean about the missing emu egg & all...

https://www.carters.com.au/index.cf...ce-emu-egg-garniture-inkwell-set-wonderful-e/

 

Here's one at the Leeds Museum in England:



https://secretlivesofobjects.blog/2...-australia-day-through-leeds-museums-objects/



Almost certainly either a British or Australian maker, might poke around for a marked piece like it, or with closely matching elements for an attribution, otherwise will just remain anonymous. Most are going to date from around the 1860s into the early 20th century...

~Cheryl

 

How interesting. There seem to be a lot of items like this but in somewhat different designs. The two posted here by @SBSVC and @DragonflyWink are about the closest to yours that I can find.

 

I'd love to see this complete set in person--even my left-over version of it is pretty wonderful.

 

Thanks, Cheryl.

Oh well found--the original sure is spectacular. Such a shame mine has no maker's mark, especially given the craftmanship that's gone into it. Thanks!

 

There are a lot of them around, but they seem to be mostly in museums (at least, the online ones I'm finding). This is what's surprised me in terms of finding out more about who made them and where etc.--there just doesn't seem to be any write-up about them.

 

In search of dating, look for similar pieces with inscriptions, etc., might be noting an occasion, or a prize for a competion (though dates and events can be added after the original manufacture), and look for similar solid silver pieces with maker's marks, if Australian makers, look for their working dates, if British, should be date-marked. If you are in Australia, might have access to old Australian newspapers, magazines and books online, could try searching though those for advertisements, articles, etc. mentioning emu egg and silver pieces, and wouldn't limit it to inkstands/inkwells, but also look for clocks, garnitures, trophies, etc. (and despite popular belief, not all information can be found on the internet - actual printed books might be helpful). There used to be an Australian Silver Society, and suspect there are groups devoted to Australiana, might try contacting them to see if they have more information...

~Cheryl

 

Reminded by the information on Wendt and the honors he received, that I should have mentioned old exhibition catalogs are also useful in researching...

~Cheryl

 

Cheryl, thanks so much for these details. They're extraordinarily helpful! I'll be in Australia next month, so will look into visiting some local libraries and seeing what I can find.

 

Oh my--this is a great name to look into further! Thanks so much!

 

Fascinating stuff. I think people these days forget just what a strange and exotic, faraway place Australia was, for most people in the world, back when these items were made.

Something as weird and as different as Australian animals and plants would've had a huge novelty value back then to anybody living outside of Australia. Especially since Australia only became an independent, self-governing country (1901) relatively late in the history of the world.