No information is available regarding this item and it is not known who ‘H.W.’ is. Silver serviettes such as this one were common household items and common wedding presents in the early 20th century. The fact that this one is silver and is monogrammed suggests that it came from an affluent family. It may have been one of a set. Serviette rings are still used today, especially for formal dining occasions. This item is of interest in that it is an example of dining customs in the early 20th century. It is a display item.This is a circular silver object used to hold a folded serviette. It has four hallmarks which indicate it is British made and it has a monogram, ‘H.W.’ It is slightly tarnished and has some small dents. ‘H.W.’ (or ‘W.H.’)serviette ring, warrnambool

No specific information is available on this item. Household items made of ivory were common in the early 20th century and were often brought back to Australia from people returning from an overseas trip. Many of these types of items came from Asia. Letter openers are still is use today.This item is of interest as an example of the use of ivory in household items early in the 20th century. This use of ivory is in the main illegal today.This is a letter opener made of ivory. It has a plain blade with a rounded highly decorated handle. The decoration consists mainly of punched holes in geometrical patterns. The top has a hole for hanging up the item. There is a small split in the ivory in the middle of the handle. letter opener, warrnambool

This tea caddy, an attractive item, was given to Margaret Fletcher (date of presentation unknown). A tea caddy in the 19th century was a valued object as tea was expensive and was bought in small quantities. The two side containers are for green and black tea and the middle one was for blending the tea mixtures. The caddy was lockable so that domestic workers etc could not have easy access to a valuable commodity. The local provenance of this object and the identity of Margaret Fletcher have not yet been established. She may be related to John Fletcher, the Warrnambool cordial maker or James Fletcher, the Warrnambool lawyer. This tea caddy is of great interest as an attractive artefact from the 19th century and as an example of a household item no longer in use. It is also of interest because it was given to Margaret Fletcher, possibly a local Warrnambool person. This is a polished wood container made in a casket style. The wood is believed to be Coramandel. The casket has curved sides and is on a base with four legs. The lid has a brass hinge and a gold lock with the key and the lock mechanism missing. Inside are three compartments, two with hinged lids with leather tops and zinc linings. The middle compartment has a glass container set in a wooden compartment. The inscription is on a brass plate inside the casket. ‘Presented to Margaret Fletcher as a Mark of Respect’. margaret fletcher, history of warrnambool

This box is a decorative item made to be used in the household. It could have held cigars or jewellery items. This box has been an attractive item but it has no known local provenance. It will be useful for display. This is a rectangular-shaped wooden box which has been reinforced with metal inserts. It has metal hinges and a locking mechanism with a keyhole lined with metal. There is no key. The box is completely covered, except for the base, with inlaid material consisting of small black pieces and triangular-shaped white pieces, possibly bone. The inlaid material forms a decorative pattern around the box. Portions of the decoration are missing and some other parts broken away. history of warrnambool, household items, cigar box

This is a high-quality item and would have been used in a household in affluent circumstances. The firm of James Dixon and Sons of Sheffield, England, was established in 1806 and ceased to operate in 1992. Candles were widely used for household lighting until the advent and availability of electric lighting from the 1920s onwards. This item has no known local provenance but is retained because it is fine example of a household item of the past.This is an electro-plated silver candlestick holder. The base is roughly circular (more hexagonal) with an embossed edge and a handle attached by welding. The candlestick holder is vase-shaped with a circular open top for inserting the candle. The circular top also has an embossed edge. Attached to the handle by a clip is a cone-shaped snuffer. The candle holder and snuffer have been used. On the bottom of the base are the name and symbol of the maker and five hallmarks. ‘Jas Dixon & Sons Sheffield’ ‘866 P W/B’ household lighting, history of warrnambool, silver candlestick, candlestick with snuffer

This child’s wash board, a play item, is possibly home-made. Wash boards for rubbing and washing clothes were common household clothes- washing items in Australia until the mid 20th century, along with wood coppers, washing troughs, copper sticks and simple wringers. By the 1950s and 60s washing machines were becoming more prevalent and the wash board was no longer a common item in households. This item is retained as an interesting example of a twentieth Century child's toy.This is a rectangular-shaped unpainted wooden wash board with clear rippled glass inserted in the centre and held in by four metal screws. The top of the board has a piece of the wood missing. household items, children’s toys

A darning mushroom such as this was a common household item in Australia up to the 1950s. Socks were mostly made of wool and when holes appeared, (particularly in the heel) they had to be darned, usually in a criss-cross pattern. The darning mushroom gave the darner a good smooth and stable surface. Many of these darning tools were homemade. The darner could also have been used to mend torn sleeves or other items of clothing. Some people may still use a darning mushroom today but in general socks are not darned but disposed of when holes appear. This darning mushroom has no known local provenance but it is a good example of a household item of times past. This is a light-coloured wooden darning tool. The mushroom-shaped top is attached to a handle which is elongated at the bottom end and has a slight ridge near the base and a small hole at the end. There are some pit marks on the top surface. darning mushroom, social history, history of warrnambool

These boxes were commonly used to hold and carry cutlery between storage and the table. We have no information on Mr Godfrey. They are also sometimes referred to as knife boxes. A common item in many households in the 20th century.Wooden rectangular box with sloping sides and partition with hole in centre in the middle. Unpainted timber which is joined with nails on the corners and baseFrom J J Godfrey on bottom of box in blue texta.knife box, cutlery box, j godfrey

This razor is made by Joseph Rodgers of Sheffield, England. This business existed from 1682 to 1975. It would have been a common-place item in households in Australia in the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century up to the widespread use of shavers containing razor blades and the advent of electric shavers. This razor has no known local provenance but is retained as an example of the type of razor in use in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It will be useful for display. .1 This is a razor, much rusted but still very sharp, which fits into a bean-shaped cover which is made of bone. The blade has the maker’s name on it. The cover has two screws. .2 The container is made of thickened cardboard in two parts and has an inner covering, also made of cloth and cardboard. The top part of the container may not the original one for this razor. The bottom end of the container is missing. The outer container is much scuffed. ‘Extra Ground Hollow’ “Joseph Rodgers Clun St. Sheffield’ social history, history of warrnambool, razor

This candle holder would probably be mostly used for a candle placed on a table, cupboard or bench. It is unornamented and so would not occupy any place of importance. Candles and lamps were the chief source of light in households until the advent and use of electricity in the early 20th century. Gas lighting was in use in street lighting and in industry for some time before this. Electric lighting for households became available in Warrnambool in the 1920s but the use of lamps and candles was still prevalent until the middle of the 20th century. This candle holder is of some interest as an example of a household item from times past. It will be useful for display. This is a china candle holder. It has a white glaze and the base is circular in shape. The rim or lip is ridged around the edge. One side of the object is cracked. household lighting, history of warrnambool, candle holder

The maker of this cruet set is unknown. It is a high quality household item and would have been a common item in households of the more affluent homes in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Cruet sets are not used much these days but have usually been replaced by salt and pepper shakers without a stand. This cruet set has no known local provenance but is retained as an example of a household item of the past. It will be useful for display This cruet set consists of a stand, a container for mustard and two containers for salt and pepper. The stand is silver-plated and has a rectangular base with pointed edges and three slots for the containers, one rectangular and the other two square in shape. The handle is riveted to the base with two screws which are now rusty. The base of the stand also has six studs. The silver plating is tarnished in places. The salt and pepper containers are made of cut glass in rectangular shapes and have silver-plated circular-shaped lids. The top of one of the lids has broken loose from the lid. The mustard container is made of cut glass and is rectangular in shape. The silver plating on the lids is wearing away. history of warrnambool, 19th century household items, cruet set

This is a porridge set which probably dates from the early years of the 20th century. Porridge bowls and cups were particularly popular in Scotland at that time and would have been used in households in Australia throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. These items have no known local provenance but are of interest as an example of the household china that was in use 100 years ago and was still being used for many decades after that time. They are attractive items and will be useful for display. These two items are a large cup and saucer made of china and used for porridge. The cup has colour floral and leaf scroll decorations inside the top rim, a piece of verse extolling the farmer and surrounded by black and white patterns, including farming implements, on one side of the cup and coloured farming implements in circles with the same verses in larger circles with a colour wheat sheaf in the centre on the other side of the cup. The saucer, more in the shape of a soup bowl, has the same colour floral and leaf decorations around the rim and the same farming patterns and verses in the centre. The handle has a black and white floral decoration The maker’s mark and name are on the bottom of the cup and saucer. ‘In God is Our Trust’ ‘The Farmers Arms’ history of warrnambool, porridge bowls

This is a mantel clock used probably in the dining room or lounge room of a house. It would have been a common item in a household in the 20th century and was often an heirloom passed down from grandparents. This type of clock is an attractive item and is still regarded as highly desirable today.This clock has no known local significance but is retained as an attractive and historical item and serves as an example of a high quality household object of the past. This is a black wooden clock with a rectangular base with ornamental metal corner pieces and two ornamental gilt metal patterns. The clock has an overhanging rectangular top with two gilt handles on the side. Also on the sides of the lock are two green inset faux columns with two metal ornaments in between. The brass mechanism at the back of the clock has four wheels. The clock face has a glass front, black numbers and metal hands. There is a strip of brass around the outside of the face. There are two key holes on the face. 'Sessions'warrnambool, mantel clock

Walking sticks with carved snakes such as this one were very popular household items in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and were often given as presents to older men. They were novelty pieces of carving requiring considerable skill and patience and walking sticks were usually hand-made in those days. This walking stick has no known local provenance but it is a fine example of a hand-made household item of 100 to 150 years ago This is a piece of brown wood with the shaft of the stick carved to a smooth round shape tapering down towards the end and with a snake shape carved over the shaft from the same piece of wood. The head of the snake juts out from the shaft top and the snake has scaly patterns worked on its surface. The stick has a larger round knob at the top and a metal covering at the bottom. When the stick is held upright and twirled around it gives the impression of a snake coiling and moving up the stick. household items, walking sticks

This is a book of 603 pages. It has a maroon-coloured cover with gold printing on the front and the spine. The pages contain printed text, black and white illustrations and advertisements.non-fictionTechnical Information on loom tuningloom tuning, warrnambool woollen mill

This is a book of 787 pages. It contains printed text, diagrams, charts and sample accounting sheets. The cover is brown with gold printing on the spine. There are two loose sheets of typed material.non-fictionThis accounting text book is from the collection of items relating to Warrnambool Woollen Mill.warrnambool woollen mill, antiquarian text books, cost accounting

The book has back and front covers in brown leather which features heavily raised embossing . The raised sections contain Biblical and other religious images and intricate patterns. The spine has gold lettering. The front cover is slightly scuffed and is detached from the spine. It has been bound with string and paste. The pages, some of which are torn, contain text and black and white and colour plates. It is not only a Bible as it includes the history of other religions.non-fictionBible and History of religions family bible, family bible 1900, warrnambool

This is a book of 258 pages plus 86 pages of advertisements. The cover is dark red with an embossed shield on the front cover and gold printing on the spine. The pages contain a black and white photograph, many illustrations and diagrams and several pages of fold-out sketches. non-fictionThis is a technical book regarding valves and their maintenance in machinery. henry family, warrnambool woollen mill, valves and valve gearing

The cloth cover is heavily patterned and slightly embossed with gold lettering. It is partly detached from the spine. On the spine is gold lettering and an image of a saint. The pages contain text, over ninety reproductions of engravings and the calligraphy initials are printed at the start of each chapter. non-fictionThis is a family biblereligious education, family bible, illustrated family bible, bible 19th century, warrnambool

This container of 11 boxes of safety matches would have been a common item in a household during the first half of the 20th century and would have been used for the safe lighting of lamps, candles, room heating (fires), bath heaters, cigarettes, pipes etc. Safety matches came into use in the first half of the 19th century and the safety aspects have been improved after that time. Safety matches are still used today - for instance, when camping or in times of power failure. These matches are of interest as an example of household items in common use in the past. These are eleven boxes of safety matches (one box missing) wrapped in a buff-coloured paper cover with a label in red, blue and white colours with printing and an image of a dark-haired woman set against a white flame. Each box contains about 60 matches with a label similar to the one on the outside packaging. The matches are wooden with pink tips. The boxes have a rough surface on the side acting as a striking mechanism. The back of each box has a message containing some thoughts from thinkers and philosophers from the past.Ever-Brite Safety Matchesvintage lighting, safety matches, everbrite matches

This is a hurricane lamp, so called because the tall glass dome was designed to protect the flame from excessive draft. These lamps were common in households in the first half of the 20th century ( used for house lighting) and later used for camping and out door activities.This item is retained as an example of type of lighting used in pre electricity times.This is a metal lamp with a glass bowl contained within a metal frame with a handle. There is a mantle inside the bowl. On the metal frame and base are various mechanisms for controlling the flame and a place for filling the container at the bottom with kerosene. The metal is heavily rusted with splotches of paint.vintage lighting, hurricane lamps

Hip baths, such as this one, were used in past times in households for individuals to bathe. Generally the bath was placed in front of the fire in the kitchen and filled with hot water from the kitchen stove.This item is retained as an interesting memento of past household customs.This tin hip bath for an adult is in the shape of a cradle. The exterior is painted light brown. It has curved edges around the rim with two protruding curved pieces for the bather's hands to grip when getting out of it. The base is concave. It appears to be have been constructed in pieces. The bath is rusted and stained.hip bath, vintage domestic item, bathing practices in the past

Donated itemsDisplay and storageArranged according to aesthetic appearance.Stone ware jars including: ink wells, demijohns, hot water bottles, cordial containers and other large containers.earthen ware jars, household items, commercial itemsearthen ware jars, household items, commercial items

Domestic ornamentsStored in archival tissue with other artifactsFive Victorian fairings -two suited, rotund men with a towel each, one of a pig with a cart, one with a vase and a turkey, one is a boy with a vase in the shape of a shoe. victorian fairings, vintage household ornaments, warrnambool, fairingsvictorian fairings, vintage household ornaments, warrnambool, fairings

This mug is possibly over a 100 years old and would have been used in a household for drinking purposes. The mending of the cup and its probable re-use shows the comparative austerity of the times or its sentimental and monetary value as today a broken item such as this would have been thrown away. This domestic item is of some social history significance as an example of a mug or cup used 100 years ago and mended to extend its use.This is a china mug with a round base and top. The base is cream-coloured and the mug has blue and white images on the handle and around the body of the mug and a border of the same images inside the top of the mug. The images include a stately building, reclining figures, a gondola, shrubbery and repeated patterns. The mug has been broken and mended with glue.vintage domestic item, warrnambool history, china mug, blue and white china mug

This jug and bowl set is a household item dating from the early to mid 20th century. They would have held perhaps sugar and milk or cream and used on special occasions for family gatherings or the arrival of visitors for afternoon tea or at an "At Home" occasion.This set has no known provenance but is retained as an attractive example of a household item used when dining on special occasions by the more affluent families in the district..1 A circular clear glass bowl hand-painted around the top area with an engraved band of blue, white and gold decoration, white decoration on the lower section of the bowl and gold bands around the middle section and the rim. .2 A jug of clear glass with hand-painting similar to that on the bowl.jug and bowl set, vintage household item, kitchenware, warrnambool, glass jug and bowl, glass jug, vintage glass jug and bowl, vintage glass, warrnambool history

This salt cellar is typical of those used extensively in households in Australia in the 19th and early 20th centuries at a time when salt was used on a liberal basis to flavour and preserve the food served. While a similar item may be used today in the main it has been superseded by smaller salt and pepper shakers.This item has no known local significance and is retained for display purposes. This is an oval-shaped clear glass container with a ridged incised base and lower sides. The upper side area has a pattern of dome-shaped pieces of glass. The container has an open top with no lid.vintage domestic items, glass salt cellars

This glass dish would have been used for holding sweets or savouries or small cakes or biscuits.This item, highly collectable Carnival -Ware, is kept for display purposes.This is a Dugan marigold Carnival- ware glass bowl. It is made of iridescent pressed glass.It has an pressed image of a horse's head in the centre surrounded by a patterned rim and fluted edges.vintage household item., glass dish, carnival ware

This salt cellar is typical of the ones used extensively for cooking or for table use at mealtime in households of the 19th and 20th centuries (popular up to about the 1970s). These were the times when salt was used more so than today in households to preserve and to add to the flavour of food. Today an item such as this may still be in a domestic kitchen cupboard but the salt would be used more sparingly.This item is retained as an example of a domestic item used extensively in the past.This is a clear glass salt cellar with a round moulded bowl with fluted edges. The bowl is on a glass stand, also with fluted edges.vintage domestic items, glass salt cellar

This item is an example of Carnival Ware glass. Carnival Ware is pressed glass to which an iridescent surface shimmer has been applied using metallic salts. The trade name of the colour is 'Marigold'. Carnival Ware was first produced in U.S.A in 1908 and production in both U.S. A. and other countries continued until the 1940s, with the 1920s being the decade when it was most popular. It was a cheaper version of a decorative item for the household as well as having a utilitarian purpose and is a collectable glass today.This vase has no known local significance but is retained as an example of an item likely to be found in many local households of the 20th century.This is an orange-coloured pressed glass vase. It is on a stand of three legs and has a fluted patterned top rim. The body of the vase has raised decorations of butterflies and berries.carnival ware, vintage glass ware, carnival ware glass vase