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86/1613 Inkstand with kangaroo and emu motifs, gold and silver, presented to John Todd by Thomas Bibby Guest, made by William Edwards and retailed by Kilpatrick & Co, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1865. Click to enlarge.
  • Image 1 of 2, 86/1613 Inkstand with kangaroo and emu motifs, gold and silver, presented to John Todd by Thomas Bibby Guest, made by William Edwards and retailed by Kilpatrick & Co, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1865. Click to enlarge
  • Image 2 of 2, 86/1613 Inkstand with kangaroo and emu motifs, gold and silver, presented to John Todd by Thomas Bibby Guest, made by William Edwards and retailed by Kilpatrick & Co, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1865. Click to enlarge

Inkstand with kangaroo and emu motifs by William Edwards

Made
Only twenty four significant examples of Australian-made secular presentation pieces crafted in gold are known to have survived from the colonial period; almost eighty are known to have been made. This unique inkstand is one of the most striking, particularly in its use of sculptural elements and Australian iconography. Fashioned in silver and almost pure gold, it was made in the workshop of William Edwards (c1819 -c1889) in Melbourne in 1865 and retailed by Kilpatrick & Co (est.1853). The son …

Summary

Object No.

86/1613

Object Statement

Inkstand with kangaroo and emu motifs, gold and silver, presented to John Todd by Thomas Bibby Guest, made by William Edwards and retailed by Kilpatrick & Co, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1865

Physical Description

Large inkstand with stepped rectangular silver base with bowed ends, set on four cast paw feet each flanked by a small rosette below palmette (anthemion) scrolls; cast scrollwork apron is attached along longer sides of the base. The base is surmounted with central rectangular seal box with engraved presentation inscription. The seal box cover is mounted in gold with cast addorsed kangaroos beneath two intertwined tree ferns on ground chased with foliage and ferns. The box is flanked by two wool bale silver ink pots made of hand raised soldered silver and set on gold fern leaf calyxes with gold covers, each in the form of an emu. Two horizontal cradles for pens are on either side of the base.

Marks

Inscribed on seal box 'PRESENTED TO / John Todd Esquire / of Manchester / BY THOMAS BIBBY GUEST / as a token of gratitude for the liberal assistance / and / continued confidence so generously accorded him / whereby he has been enabled to establish himself in the profitable business / IN AUSTRALIA / Melbourne Victoria March 1865.'

On underside of base Inscribed, 'Sterling K+Co (within rectangular border) Silver', '(figure of emu) W.E (within border) (figure of kangaroo)'

Short URL

https://ma.as/58581

Dimensions

Height

245 mm

Width

320 mm

Depth

190 mm

Production

Made

Notes

The inkstand was made in the workshop of the English immigrant silversmith William Edwards in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia in1865.

The Edwards workshop excelled in the production of mounted emu egg ornaments including sporting trophies, cups caskets and instands. His workshop also produced many silver and gold trophies and epergnes that secured him awards in international exhibitions. Major commissions such as the bridal gift to the Princess of Wales and in 1863 and gifts for Prince Albert, Duke of Edinburgh brought the firm a Royal appointment in 1867.

History

Owned

Notes

This inkstand was presented to John Todd Esquire of Manchester by biscuit manufacturer Thomas Bibby Guest to thank his English business associate for financial assistance.

The inkstand was retailed by Kilpatrick & Co, Melbourne.

Thomas Bibby Guest was a steam biscuit manufacturer from Melbourne. Guest tried his luck in the Goldfields about 1857 and 'made a considerable sum of money in mining [and] ... lost most of it'. John Todd his English business associate, helped Guest by sending him the latest biscuit making technology on credit.

Source

Credit Line

Purchased with the assistance of Silvanus Gladstone Evans bequest, 1986

Acquisition Date

18 November 1986

Cite this Object

Harvard

Inkstand with kangaroo and emu motifs by William Edwards 2023, Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, accessed 1 June 2023, <https://ma.as/58581>

Wikipedia

{{cite web |url=https://ma.as/58581 |title=Inkstand with kangaroo and emu motifs by William Edwards |author=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences |access-date=1 June 2023 |publisher=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, Australia}}

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