The Powerhouse acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the ancestral homelands upon which our museums are situated. We respect their Elders, past, present and future and recognise their continuous connection to Country.

Object Lesson

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Object Lesson is a digital content series from the Powerhouse that upends and inverts the legacy of a set of lesson cards held in the collection since 1880. Named for English educator Elizabeth Mayo’s 1831 publication Lessons on Objects, the series is underpinned by a desire to learn more about the objects in our collection from people and communities who have special relationships with them.

Knowledge stems not only from teacher or institution or object alone — but at the intersection of …

P411 Object lesson card, part of collection, 'Birds', framed, down / feather / cardboard / glass / wood / plastic / textile, published by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1880-1884
'Birds' object lesson card by Oliver and Boyd
1880-1884
P416 Object lesson card, part of collection, 'Mollusca', framed, seashell / sepia / cardboard / glass / wood, published by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1880-1884
'Mollusca' object lesson card by Oliver and Boyd
1880-1884
P452 Object lesson card, part of collection, 'Type-metal', framed, metal / cardboard / glass / wood, published by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1880-1884
'Type-metal' object lesson card by Oliver and Boyd
1880-1884
P445 Object lesson card, part of collection, 'Tin and Pewter', framed, metal / cardboard / glass / wood / textile, published by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1880-1884
'Tin and Pewter' object lesson card by Oliver and Boyd
1880-1884
On display
P450 Object lesson card, part of collection, 'Sand', framed, glass / cardboard / wood / paper, published by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1880-1884
'Sand' object lesson card by Oliver and Boyd
1880-1884
P443 Object lesson card, part of collection, 'Steel', framed, metal / cardboard / glass / wood / paper, published by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1880-1884
'Steel' object lesson card
1880-1884
P409 Object lesson card, part of collection, 'The Goat', framed, mohair / leather / cardboard / glass / wood / textile, published by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1880-1884
'The Goat' object lesson card by Oliver and Boyd
1880-1884
P427 Object lesson card, part of collection, 'The Chestnut Tree', framed, leaf / cardboard / glass / wood / paper, published by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1880-1884
'The Chestnut Tree' object lesson card
1880-1884
P431 Object lesson card, part of collection, 'Cotton', framed, leaf / seeds / cotton / cardboard / glass / wood / textile, published by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1880-1884
'Cotton' object lesson card by Oliver and Boyd
1880-1884
P410 Object lesson card, part of collection, 'The Rabbit', framed, fur / felt / cardboard / glass / wood / plastic / textile, published by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1880-1884
'The Rabbit' object lesson card by Oliver and Boyd
1880-1884
P412 Object lesson card, part of collection, 'The Whale', framed, baleen / spermaceti / cardboard / glass / wood / plastic, published by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1880-1884
'The Whale' object lesson card by Oliver and Boyd
1880-1884
P434 Object lesson card, part of collection, 'The Cork Tree', framed, leaf / bark / cork / cardboard / glass / wood, published by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1880-1884
'The Cork Tree' object lesson card by Oliver and Boyd
1880-1884
H2910 Object lesson cards (2), 'Practical Object Lessons Series 1 Needle Making', framed, steel / cardboard / yarn, made by Cox & Co, London, England, 1905
'Needle Making' object lesson cards by Cox & Co
1905
P437 Object lesson card, part of collection, 'The Rose Tree', framed, leaves / cardboard / glass / wood / plastic / textile, published by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1880-1884
'The Rose Tree' object lesson card by Oliver and Boyd
1880-1884
P407 Object lesson card, part of collection, 'The Sheep', framed, sheepskin / wool / catgut / cardboard / glass / wood / paper, published by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1880-1884
'The Sheep' object lesson card by Oliver and Boyd
1880-1884
P422 Object lesson card, part of collection, 'The Fir and Larch', framed, leaf / cardboard / glass / wood / plastic / textile, published by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1880-1884
'The Fir and Larch' object lesson card by Oliver and Boyd
1880-1884
P440 Object lesson card, part of collection, 'Gold', framed, gold / possibly plaster / cardboard / glass / wood / paper, published by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1880-1884
'Gold' object lesson card by Oliver and Boyd
1880-1884
P408 Object lesson card, part of collection, 'The Horse', framed, horsehair / keratin / crystal of prussiate / cardboard / glass / wood / plastic / textile, published by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1880-1884
'The Horse' object lesson card by Oliver and Boyd
1880-1884
P406 Object lesson card, part of collection, 'The Calf', framed, calfskin / leather / gelatine / cardboard / glass / wood / textile, published by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1880-1884
'The Calf' object lesson card by Oliver and Boyd
1880-1884
P424 Object lesson card, part of collection, 'The Oak Tree', framed, leaf / bark / leather / cardboard / glass / wood / plastic / paper, published by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1880-1884
'The Oak Tree' object lesson card by Oliver and Boyd
1880-1884
P442 Object lesson card, part of collection, 'Iron', framed, metal / cardboard / glass / wood / paper, published by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1880-1884
'Iron' object lesson card by Oliver and Boyd
1880-1884
P425 Object lesson card, part of collection, 'The Beech Tree', framed, leaf / cardboard / glass / wood, published by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1880-1884
'The Beech Tree' object lesson card by Oliver and Boyd
1880-1884
P432 Object lesson card, part of collection, 'The Flax Plant', framed, flax / cardboard / glass / wood / paper, published by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1880-1884
'The Flax Plant' object lesson card by Oliver and Boyd
1880-1884
P414 Object lesson card, part of collection, 'The Honey Bee', framed, beeswax / cardboard / glass / wood / plastic / paper, published by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1880-1884
'The Honey Bee' object lesson card by Oliver and Boyd
1880-1884