‘The Art of the Japanese Package’ was an exhibition that toured to 10 Australian and 11 New Zealand public galleries in 1979 and 1980. The touring exhibition comprised 221 objects of traditional Japanese packaging which extended from ceramics, wood and paper to woven fibre containers. At the conclusion of the tour, The Japan Foundation and the Crafts Board of the Australia Council donated the vast majority of the exhibition to the Ararat Gallery for its permanent collection. Combining the natural qualities of bamboo, paper and straw with delicate craftsmanship, these unique objects express Japanese aesthetics as applied through fibre crafts. In Japan, the qualities and traits of natural materials are exploited rather than hidden. The texture of straw, the septa of bamboo are not concealed but lovingly incorporated into the whole. In 1979 Hideyuki Oka, curator of ‘The Art of the Japanese Package’ wrote: “In no way self-conscious or assertive, these wrappings have an artless and obedient air that greatly moves the modern viewer. They are whispered evidence of the Japanese ability to create beauty from the simplest products of nature. They also teach us that wisdom and feeling are especially important in packaging because these qualities, or the lack of them, are almost immediately apparent. What is the use of a package if it shows no feeling?” The descriptions of the featured objects were written by Hideyuki Oka, curator of ‘The Art of the Japanese Package’, 1979.Gift of the Japan-Australia Foundation and the Crafts Board of the Australia Council, 1981Hand-cut sections of cryptomeria wood make a simple but dignified box for dried noodles. The shop in Akita City that sells this product was founded in 1665. The label, with its numerous seal impressions, has the look of an old-time legal document, and this is fitting, for it is actually the shop's pedigree. It records, among other things, the name of the founder and the fact that the shop, originally located in Inaba, once sold its noodles to the feudal lord of the region by special appointment. - Professor Hideyuki Oka, curator.japanese art, japanese packaging, tsutsumi, gift giving

DEATH OF MR. H. NEWMAN. Widespread regret will be felt at the announcement of the death of Mr Henry Newman, an old colonist and a member of firm of Newman and Sons Proprietary Limited, jewellers, which occurred at his residence, "Sadova," William street, on Saturday, at the age of 89 years. Mr Newman who was born at Riga, in Russia, went to England when a lad, became naturalised, and emigrated to Victoria 61 years ago. He tried his fortune at Ballarat but soon afterwards returned to Melbourne, and began business as a jeweller, on a site in Collins street that is now occupied by Scott's Hotel. A few years later Mr Newman went back to England, where he was married. On his return to Victoria again he resumed his jewellery business in Elizabeth street opposite the General Post-office. An interesting fact in connection with his business is that his first journeyman watchmaker was Mr. Thomas Gaunt, the founder of the firm of Messrs. T. Gaunt & Co. Five years ago Mr. Newman retired from the business, which has since been carried on by his two elder sons. Although he took no active part in public affairs, Mr Newman was held in high regard on account of his business integrity, sterling personal worth. and the unostentatious way in which he did good. His vitality, even in his later years, was wonderful. On four occasions he met with accidents, having been twice knocked down by motorcars and twice by trams, without having sustained injury. A widow and grown up family of four sons and four daughters survive him. The Age Monday 27 October 1913, page 9. Roy Cronin 156 High Street Kew Jeweller and watchmaker. East side between Denmark Street and Cotham Road. Wood, enamel, brass and glass wall clock, the movement made by H Newman of Collins Street, Melbourne. A small label on the interior records the name R. Cronin, 156 High St, Kew, 1/7/20. It is unclear whether Cronin, a watchmaker and jeweller may have repaired or sold the clock. The clock (broken) is housed in a steel box.roy cronin - watchmaker - jeweller - kew (vic), h newman - melbourne (vic) - collins street - jeweller - clockmaker

Open wood container designed to hold letters, probably on a desk. The box has a design of swallows carrying letters on the frontLETTERShousehold item, letter rack

Witness Box, sourced during the period of renovation of the Kew Court House, believing that it was an original item of furniture from the building. Based on an examination of the woods in the item by heritage consultants, it was deemed not to be original to the building. As the item had been donated, the item could not be returned. For many years, it has been stored in teh basement of Kew Library.An original witness box from a Victorian Court House.Large and heavy wooden witness box from a Victorian court house.kew court house, court house furnishings

A wooden racquet, partially painted white,with red rubber gripped handle. Inscription across the throat on obverse, accompanied by an emblem of a male tennis player: EXPE[RT]. Manufacturer's emblem, featured on throat on reverse, comprises of text box framed by a ribboned wreath below, and a spread eagle above. Inscription: N.J. MAGNAN/CORP./NORTH ATTLEBORO/MASS. Materials: Wood, Nylon, String, Leather, Cloth, Metal, Glue, Lacquer, Ink, Plastic, Adhesive tape, Rubbertennis

A wooden chest (.1) containing lawn tennis equipment, specifically: racquets (.2 - .3); net (.4); net posts (.5 - .6, 2 parts each); and a pair of pegs (.7, 2 parts). Inscription across the top of the lid, in French: JEU DE LAWN TENNIS. Inscription below features manufacturing details. Lithographic print on inside of lid features a mixed doubles match, in a park, with inscription: JEU DE TENNIS. Handwritten inscription across front of box: TENNIS 3 11 *POUND* 45. Materials: Wood, Metal, Lacquer, Cord, Cloth tape, Ink, Gut, Papertennis

A Ring Tennis set chest (.1) containing: rings (.2 - .5); guy ropes (.6 - .7); net posts (.8, 2 parts, .9, one part); court boundary markers (.10 - .19); rope (.20), and a metallic flag marker (.21). Eight miscellaneous pieces also feature. Inscription across top of lid: "TENIKOIT' OR RING TENNIS/...REGULATION FOUR PLAYER SET. Across top of base: R.H. MOTTRAM/(SOLE MAKER)/CHURCH STRETTON/SHROPSHIRE. On sides of box: TENIKOIT/NO. 2A. Materials: Wood, Metal, Lacquer, Ink, Glue, Rubber, Paint, Rope, Cord, Stringtennis

A two-part box (.1) containing a three-part stand (.2). Inscription across top of lid: HARRODS/TENNIS PARTNER/HARRODS KNIGHTSBRIDGE - - S.W.1. Although fundamentally a pole tennis set, it's purpose is specifically for lawn tennis training, not outdoor leisure. Within the box are contained two cartons containing tethered tennis balls (TA 2009.355 - .356), and a third box containing two tethers (TA 2009.357). Materials: Wood, Metal, Paint, Cardboard, Paper, Inktennis

A Wilson ' Famous Player' Tennis Set, featuring the images of Jack Kramer, Maureen Connolly, and Tony Trabert on the lid. The contents within the set box are: a Wilson 'Famous Player Model' tennis racquet; a Wilson racquet press; a Wilson racquet cover; and, a can containing three Wilson 'Match-Point' tennis balls. Materials: Cardboard, Ink, Wood, Nylon, Paint, Lacquer, Glue, Leather, Cloth, Metal, String, Adhesive tape, Rubber, Felttennis

Page from an album designed for Allen & Ginther collectible cigarette cards. Features place holder for one card (depicting RD Sears). Framed with galss backing to also display back of card. Text on back of card: 'SECOND SERIES/THE WORLD'S CHAMPIONS/ONE PACKED IN EACH BOX OF 20 RICHMOND STRAIGHT CUT NO.1 CIGARETTES'. Materials: Paper, Ink, Glass, Woodtennis

'Horsman's Tiddledy Wink Tennis' game set. Lithographed cardboard box containing a dyed felt playing area, 30 small and two large coloured discs, a cardboard 'net' with wood support stands, and a small wooden cup. Materials: Cardboard, Paper, Ink, Wood, Glue, Bonetennis

Block puzzle set. Contains 35 wood blocks covered with printed paper that can be arranged to make 6 different scenes. Housed in custom wooden box with hinge lid. Hinge is cloth tape. Box also contains five picture guide cards (sixth picture guide appears on box lid). Complete set. Small swinging metal hook as box closure device. Materials: Cardboard, Paper, Ink, Wood, Glue, Cloth tape, Metaltennis

'Card Tennis' game set. Lithographed wooden box containing 19 stroke cards, 20 coloured cardboard discs and five large picture cards. Also contains an instructions pamphlet. Materials: Cardboard, Paper, Ink, Wood, Gluetennis

Block puzzle set in a cardboard box. Contains 9 wood blocks covered with printed paper that can be arranged to make 6 different scenes. Box also contains five picture guide cards (sixth picture guide appears on box lid). One of the scenes is a tennis scene. Complete set. Small logo on lid states 'GERMANY'. Materials: Cardboard, Paper, Ink, Wood, Gluetennis

'Tennis' game set. Consists of a playing board, and a small box. Box contains two die, a dice shaker, and a circular 'pawn' piece. Also contains instuctions sheet. Set is complete according to documentation. Materials: Cardboard, Paper, Ink, Glue, Woodtennis

'Lawn Tennis' game. Contains an instructions sheet, a wood mallet and four circular wooden tokens. Appears to be missing a mallet. Bottom of box features printed play area. Materials: Wood, Ink, Plastictennis

'Paddle Tennis' set in red box with a lid label featuring image of game played on street before a crowd. Contains two solid wood paddles a string net and two rubber balls. Materials: Cardboard, Ink, Wood, Metal, Natural fibre, Felt, Bonetennis

'Grasshopper Tennis' game. Contains four bone discs, four painted wooden miniature paddles, a rules pamphlet and a tournament invitation/instruction sheet. Inside of box line with printed felt (as 'court') and miniature net attached to hinge of box. Two metal net braces are missing. Materials: Cardboard, Ink, Wood, Metal, Natural fibre, Felt, Bonetennis

'Table Tennis' game. Appears complete: contains a woven 'net', two net supports, two wood paddles, and a plastic hollow ball. Also contains an instructions sheet. Three non-original metal clips contained in box. Made in Germany Materials: Cardboard, Paper, Ink, Plastic, Glue, Metal, Clothtennis

French block puzzle entitled 'Les Cubes Humoristiques'. 21-part object; (1 to 15) 15 paper-covered wooden blocks which can be arranged to make six different scenes; (16) Wooden box for housing blocks with paper lithograph illustration on lid depicting a tennis match; (17 to 21) Five picture cards: colour lithographs pasted onto card, depicting various humourous sporting and leisure scenes. Materials: Wood, Paper, Metal, Cardboard, Ink, Cloth tapetennis

Silver prize box, inscribed: 'INTERNATIONALES TENNIS-TURNIER KOLN 1952 HDI/EHREN PREIS DER REGIERUNG KOLN/REGIERUNGPRASIDENT'. Stamped on base 'STERLING 925'. Materials: Silver/Metal, Woodtennis

Silver prize box, lined with wood. Inscr: 'INTERNATIONALES TENNIS-TURNIER/ KOLN 1950/HERREN DOPPEL/II PREIS'. Materials: Silver/Metaltennis

Velvet-lined box (1/8 ) set of silver plate (2/8) and six cups (3-8/8). Plate inscr: 'EHRENPREIS/DES REGIERUNGSPRASIDENTEN IN KOLN/ANL. DER INT. HALLEN-TENNIS MEISTERSCHAFT/VON DEUTSCHLAND/1963/HERREN-DOPPEL'. Base of plate stamped: 'WILKENS' and with graphical stamps and '835' and '7837'. Cups are stamped same except third number is '7836'. Adhesive brand label on base of each cup is 'ANLAUFGESCHUTZT'. Adhesive label on base of box states: 'A.WORTMANN/JUWELIER'. Materials: Silver/Metal, Woodtennis

An 'Abbey' two-part wood and hemp rope single ball cleaner in printed cardboard packaging. Also in box is a small pamphlet with instructions for use. Materials: Cardboard, Ink, Wood, Rope, Papertennis

Gold brooch in shape of a racquet and ball housed in jewellers box. Engraved on obverse: '23 MAY 1910'. Engraved in ornate script on reverse: 'MLM/HARROGATE'. Box is blue velvet, with text printed on lining of underside lid: 'MAKERS TO THE ADMIRALTY/WATCH/MANUFACTURERES/& JEWELLERS/S.GREENOUGH & SONS/45/NEWPORT ST/BOLTON'. Materials: Gold/Metal, Velvet, Wood, Metaltennis

Econasign kits were aimed at small businesses who could use the transparent stencils for the manufacturing of “showcards, price tickets, posters, labels, etc…..by a simple operation of printing by means of transparent stencils.Intact printing kit used in a notable Kew pharmaceutical business.A kit of printing equipment for commercial small display signage. Box and contents produced by the "Econasign" Co. Ltd. 137 Victoria Street, London S.W.1. The box includes a booklet, sample blank paper signs, a brush, and a book of plastic templates. The latter indicates that the kit was distributed by an Australian Agent - J. Raeburn Miller, 8 Bank of NSW Chamber, 280 Castlereagh St., SydneyTyped label on interior: "Donated by the descendants of Charles Gilbert Wood (1891-1948) Pharmacist of 235 High Street, Kew, Vic, / and / Donald Charles Wood (1920-1948) Pharmacist of 283 Doncaster Road, North Balwyn, Vic."econasign, pharmacy printing equipment, charles gilbert wood, donald charles wood

Bertie Greenwood was born c. 1880/81 and died aged 82 in Hawthorn in 1963. His father and possibly his grandfather were also carpenters. Bertie’s work as a cabinetmaker required precise planing to give lovely edges and other elaborate decorations. The major item in the tool collection is Bertie’s wooden box, which houses 45 different moulding planes. Later in his life, he used these skills extensively when he worked as a patternmaker for a plastering company. Bertie worked through his seventies, retiring when he lost a finger. The tool collection was donated to the Kew Historical Society by Bertie’s granddaughter, Pamela Webster Bloom, a former resident of Kew.The blackened wood toolbox contains 45 wooden moulding planes, many made in England. In woodworking, a moulding plane is a specialised plane used for making the complex shapes found in wooden mouldings. Traditionally, moulding planes were blocks of wear resistant hardwood, often beech or maple, which were worked to the shape of the intended moulding. The blade, or iron was likewise formed to the intended moulding profile and secured in the body of the plane with a wooden wedge. A traditional cabinetmakers shop might have many, perhaps hundreds, of moulding planes for the full range of work to be performed.Toolbox engraved with the initials ‘BG’ on the lidmoulding plane, bertie greenwood, woodworking tools

In woodworking, a moulding plane is a specialised plane used for making the complex shapes found in wooden mouldings. Traditionally, moulding planes were blocks of wear resistant hardwood, often beech or maple, which were worked to the shape of the intended moulding. The blade, or iron was likewise formed to the intended moulding profile and secured in the body of the plane with a wooden wedge. A traditional cabinetmakers shop might have many, perhaps hundreds, of moulding planes for the full range of work to be performed.Bertie Robert Edgar Greenwood was born c. 1880/81 and died aged 82 in Hawthorn in 1963. His father and possibly his grandfather were also carpenters. Bertie’s work as a cabinetmaker required precise planing to give lovely edges and other elaborate decorations. The major item in the tool collection is Bertie’s wooden box, which houses 45 different moulding planes. Later in his life, he used these skills extensively when he worked as a patternmaker for a plastering company. Bertie worked through his seventies, retiring when he lost a finger. The tool collection was donated to the Kew Historical Society by Bertie’s granddaughter, Pamela Webster Bloom, a former resident of Kew.Plane - Wooden Moulding, Wood & Metal, 3/4” Ogee, Sims Queen St West London. Stamped with owner name ‘G. Greenwood’, with ‘G’ subsequently over-stamped with ‘B’. Later engraved number ‘3’ added on entering the collection in 2010.bertie greenwood, woodworking tools, moulding planes, carpentry, burwood road — hawthorn (vic.)

The Kew Historical Society’s collection includes a wide range of leisure objects. Many of the items are European-made, generally of British origin, however there are a number that were made for the Australian market by Australian manufacturers. There were clearly a huge range of toys produced for the Australian and International children’s market in the Nineteenth and Twentieth centuries. The examples of toys in the collection include examples of alphabet toys, arcade toys, baby toys, construction toys, dolls, doll accessories, educational toys, soft toys, tin toys, toy animals, toy blocks, toy machines, toy typewriters, etc. Box of two dimensional animals cut from wood including deer, camels, horses etc. The box includes one intact paper hand coloured template of a horse and duck. On this item there is the number LXXVIII. All of the items are housed in a cardboard box produced by Walker Stores Pty Ltd, 471-5 Sydney Road Coburg. The box also states that there was a retail outlet at Glenferrie Station. Inscribed on the box is the name Mr Edward Smith, 16 Macartney Avenue, Kew. The box is not related to the contents apart from probably being used for long term storage.puzzles, toys

The Kew Historical Society’s collection includes a wide range of leisure objects. Many of the items are European-made, generally of British origin, however there are a number that were made for the Australian market by Australian manufacturers. In the Nineteenth and Twentieth centuries, there were large numbers of games produced for children and adults. These included: arcade games, board games, playing cards and puzzles. A representative sample, many now rare survivors, can be found in the collection.Children's table game. Probably made in Germany c.1926. On the box is "Ges.Gesch" which is German for trademark registered. The box includes patterns and multicoloured glass marbles. The aim of the game is to arrange the beads in the holes of the pattern. The box pictures four children playing the game. Rules: BASIC RULES There can be two aims to the game - the first to clear the board of all the pieces and the second to try and position the pieces into a specific pattern. The playing surface is a special board and set of pegs or marbles made of ivory, bone, wood and later plastic. The traditional French board is octagonal and has 37 holes to accomodate the same number of pegs. the traditional English board is circular and has 33 holes or hollows, usually to accomodate the same number of marbles (33). Often there is a channel running around the outer edge to hold eliminated pieces. Some games required all the pieces, others only a certain number. The pieces are positioned before the start of the game.Box cover: "Gloria Mosaic. Ges.Gesch"gloria mosaic, games and puzzles