Opening of 'Our Eltham: Artistic Recollections'Born Digitaleltham, montsalvat

Eltham was a creative hub during the twentieth century, attracting innovative visual artists, architects, writers and film makers to collaborate, forging lifelong friendships and artistic legacies. Skipper produced this bronze sculpture of friend, Composer George Dreyfus for the then Shire of Eltham Art Award. Matcham Skipper (b.1921 NZ - d. 2011 Melb.) was a renowned local sculptor, jeweller and builder and an accomplished teacher, designer, ironworker, and photographer. His work is held by many museums and public collections in Australia and overseas. He was a long term resident of Montsalvat in Eltham with his family deeply involved in the building and evolution of this artists colony, which was the vision of architect and painter Justus Jorgensen. George Dreyfus (b.1928 Germany - arrived 1939 Aus) is an Australian contemporary classical, film and television composer. He has composed numerous film and television scores, including Tim Burstall's 'The Adventures of Sebastian the Fox' (1963), 'A Steam Train Passes' (1974), 'Rush' (1974), 'Dimboola' (1979) and 'The Fringe Dwellers' (1986). It was the score for 'Rush' which brought him wider recognition. He has written four operas, two symphonies, chamber music and film scores spanning five decades. Dreyfus is well known for having worked with the late director, writer and producer Tim Burstall, a key figure in Australian postwar cinema and local who lived in Eltham. Burstall was instrumental in rebuilding the Australian film industry in the 60s, creating groundbreaking Australian films including 'Stork' and 'Alvin Purple'. Figurative bronze bust of well known Australian composer George Dreyfus. He is wearing a shirt underneath a sweater. His left arm/hand is placed over his chest. His eyes are half closed as if immersed in the music. A green patina can be seen in areas on the sculpture. Signature and date cast (incised with tool) onto the back shoulder blade: 'MATCHAM SKIPPER 1987'ek prac 2015, montsalvat, eltham, george dreyfus, matcham skipper, bronze, bust, tim burstall, sculpture, rush

Rounded square silver pendant necklace with Byzantine chain depicting kneeling loversmatcham skipper, pendant, necklace, silver, jewellery

Round silver pendant necklace with cable chain depicting a stallion and riderTwo pin holes at 12 and 6matcham skipper, pendant, necklace, silver, jewellery

Silver pendant with stem and ring depicting a woman. The pendant is held by a wheat chain with S and oval clasp.Sticker with 39. Two pin holes at 12 and 6.matcham skipper, pendant, necklace, silver, jewellery

Silver round pendant depicting a bearded male with peaked hat and sculpture, with attached stem and barrel ring. The pendant is held by a cable chain and decorative S hook with curlycues.Intersecting MS mark; sticker with 37; two pin holes at 1 and 7.matcham skipper, pendant, necklace, silver, jewellery

Silver rounded square pendant depicting a male and female to the right and left of a central fruit tree. The pendant has an attached barrel ring and cable chain with decorative S clasp with curlycues. Intersecting MS mark; two pin holes at 12 and 6. matcham skipper, pendant, necklace, silver, jewellery

Silver rounded square amulet depicting an angel.Intersecting MS mark; two pin holes at 12 and 6. matcham skipper, amulet, silver, jewellery, angel

Silver rounded rectangular belt buckle depicting a rearing stallion in profile. The buckle is bordered by a bone motif. Sticker with number 50.matcham skipper, belt buckle, silver, jewellery, st. muir

Silver rounded belt buckle depicting a composition after Bruegel of two men at arms.Nonematcham skipper, belt buckle, silver, jewellery, bruegel

This medallion is a proof of that found on the Nillumbik Shire Mayoral Chain. Silver round medallion, depicting a shield with coat of arms containing clockwise from left: a bull, a vase of flowers, a ram and a bunch of grapes. Two pin holes at 12 and 6.matcham skipper, medallion, silver, jewellery, coat of arms

Silver rectangular belt buckle depicting a woman running with two hounds contained within a circle.Rectangular sticker with number 71matcham skipper, belt buckle, silver, jewellery, dianna and the hounds

Silver goat with elongated neck mounted upon a milky brown agate base. Nonematcham skipper, sculpture, silver, agate, goat

Bronze head of a boy mounted upon a square marble base. Nonematcham skipper, sculpture, bronze, head, boy, marble

Oval rubber mould for decorative pendantNonematcham skipper, mould, jewellery, pendant

Circular rubber mould depicting Pegasus.Labelled M5matcham skipper, mould, jewellery, pegasus

Round plaster mould depicting Pegasus.Nonematcham skipper, mould, jewellery, pegasus

Rectangular plaster mould of circular relief depicting Dianna and the Hounds.Inscribed in pencil on face 'Screwdriver' and 'SEB'. matcham skipper, mould, jewellery, dianna and the hounds

Round rubber mould depicting a female nude with Pegasus.Nonematcham skipper, mould, jewellery, nude, pegasus.

Round rubber mould depicting a prancing stallion.Inscribed in white paint on reverse 'MS', 'MS ST.', '120 M' and 'M'matcham skipper, mould, jewellery, horse

Rubber mould of oval relief depicting a rearing centaur with bow and arrow. Imbedded weave pattern on reversematcham skipper, mould, jewellery, centaur

Oval mould of an oval design depicting a male nude carrying a large orb; possibly Atlas carrying the world. Nonematcham skipper, mould, jewellery, nude

Round rubber mould of a decorative design Nonematcham skipper, mould, jewellery, decorative pattern

Oval latex mould depicting an angel with stylised decorative wings. Nonematcham skipper, mould, jewellery, angel, decorative design

Oval plaster mould depicting a male nude with spiral tree. Nonematcham skipper, mould, jewellery, nude, spiral tree

Plaster mould of an oval design depicting kneeling lovers embracing. nonematcham skipper, mould, jewellery, nude, lovers

Plaster mould of a fan or mirror shaped design depicting a bull.Nonematcham skipper, mould, jewellery, bull

Round rubber mould depicting a pair of hands with shield containing the southern cross and the Latin inscription: Ancora Imparo (Still I am Learning).Nonematcham skipper, mould, jewellery, shield, hands

Plaster relief depicting a chimera with goat's head, lion's mane and serpent's tail.Nonematcham skipper, relief, jewellery, chimera

Round plaster relief depicting a male nude with spiral tree. Nonematcham skipper, relief, jewellery, nude, spiral tree