The decanter was gifted to members of the Board and Fellows of the Australasian Faculty by Dr. Abu Baker Suleiman on behalf of the Academy of Medicine of Malaysia. Dr. Suleiman, Master of the Academy, presented the decanter during the silver jubilee of the Academy which was established in 1966. Bulbous shaped pewter decanter with long ribbed neck and ring shaped pewter stopper.PRESENTED TO / DEAN, FACULTY OF ANAESTHETISTS / Royal Australasian College of Surgeons / [crest of Academy] / ON THE OCCASION OF THE / SILVER JUBILEE / ACADEMY OF MEDICINE OF MALAYSIA / 1991 [hallmark] Selangor / Pewterdr abu baker suleiman, academy of medicine of malaysia, selangor pewter

Viola Annie McVicars (1911–1990) was born in Korumburra on 29 April 1911. At the age of 21, she married William John Ayling (1909–1995). After their marriage in 1932, they moved to Kew, initially to 81 Tennyson Street, and later to 180 Pakington Street. A professional tailoress, Viola Ayling was also a talented amateur potter, creating her ceramics at her home in Pakington Street, where she had an internal studio and a handmade, wood-fired brick kiln in her backyard. Following her death in 1990, her studio pottery passed to her daughter, and following the daughter’s death, to her granddaughter. This piece of glazed earthenware is part of a collection of 15 functional and decorative ceramic items donated by Viola’s granddaughter to the collection in 2024.A handmade vase, expertly potted and glazed. The style is representative of Australian ceramic design of the period, particularly that employed by Klytie Pate.Wheel thrown bulbous vase with a narrow neck. Subsequent to potting, the vase has been scraped from head to foot. An overall pink glaze, fading as it has dripped down the exterior has been highlighted with a second irregularly applied green glaze within the ridged surface. The artist has signed the base. Signature to bases: "V. Ayling" ceramics, pakington street -- kew (vic.), vase, viola annie mcvicars, viola annie ayling