Photographs taken in 2004 and emailed to Museum Marrinup Camp to which some of the German POWs from Camp 13 were transferred in order to cut wood.|Series of nineteen photos which E. Polis obtained from the International Red Cross and forwarded to Museum by email. No. 20 includes the camp leader, No 21 the Camp Leader with Georges Morel, Red Cross Representative. No. 5 includes Friedrich Emmett in centre.Marrinup Camp to which some of the German POWs from Camp 13 were transferred in order to cut wood. Series of nineteen photos

Folder containing multi-fold colour pamphlet advertising Lots 6 to 12 of Oban Woods Estate with location map and summary of subdivision features. A4 size attachments include subdivision layout of Lots 2 to 25 with summary of property sizes and undated indications of whether sold or still available at the time, with price where known. Dates not documented however early sales within the development took place around 1997.Estate plan includes Oban Woods (thoroughfare) and Chifley Parade. Location map of area shows development site of Oban Woods Estate off Oban Road and Kubis Drive, Ringwood North. Agents - R.E. Appleby Ringwood Pty Ltd., 170 Warrandyte Road Ringwood North 3134, Telephone 9876 4222, Fax 9876 4209.

A jack plane (or fore plane) is a general-purpose woodworking bench plane, used for dressing timber down to the correct size in preparation for truing and/or edge jointing. It is usually the first plane used on rough stock, but in exceptional cases can be preceded by the scrub plane. Jack planes are 300–460 mm long and 64–76 mm wide, with wooden-stocked planes sometimes being slightly wider. The blade is 44–57 mm wide that is often slightly convex (or ground with rounded corners) to prevent digging in to or marking the work. The cut is generally set deeper than on most other planes as the plane's purpose is to remove stock rather than to gain a good finish (smoothing planes are used for that). In preparing stock, the jack plane is used after the scrub plane and before the joiner plane and smoothing plane. The carpenters' name for the plane is related to the saying "jack of all trades" as jack planes can be made to perform some of the work of both smoothing and joiner planes, especially on smaller pieces of work. Its other name of the fore plane is more generally used by joiners and may come from the fact that it "is used before you come to work either with the Smooth Plane or with the Joiner". Early planes were all wood, except for the cutter, or combined a wood base with a metal blade holder and adjustment system on top. Although there were earlier all-metal planes, Leonard Bailey patented many all-metal planes and improvements in the late 19th century. A jack plane came to be referred to as a "No. 5" plane or a "Bailey pattern No. 5" at the end of the 19th century. A vintage tool made by an unknown company, this item was made commercially for firms and individuals that worked in wood and needed a tool that could remove large amounts of timber. These jack or dressing planes came in various shapes and sizes to achieve a flat and even finish to timber surfaces before the use of smoothing planes and came in many sizes. A significant tool from the mid to late 19th century that is still in use today with early models sought after by collectors. It gives us a snapshot of how furniture and other finishes were created on timber by the use of cutting edged hand tools. Tools that were themselves hand made shows the craftsmanship used during this time not only to make a tool such as the subject item but also the craftsmanship needed to produce a decorative or even finish that was needed for the finishing of timber items. Jack Plane handle is attached by large screw there is a round piece of wood tacked to front. noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, jack plane

Handwork for Schools by W.R.Dean and H. Jolly. 1953 Reprint. Book has light blue cloth cover with black printing. Back cover has part of the jacket which is light brown with dark red and blue printing and decoration pasted on it. Subjects covered are: Modelling and Carving; Pattern and Decoration; paper and Cardboard Handwork; Printed Decorations; Weaving; Handwork in Wood; Other Crafts; Decorative Needlework and PuppetryGeoffrey Cumberlege, Oxford University Press, Melbourne. Wellington. Brown, Prior, Anderson Pty Ltd., 430 Little Bourke Street., Melbourne, C.1.education, primary, golden square laurel st p.s., golden square laurel street p.s. collection - handwork for schools, w r dean, h jolly, geoffrey cumberlege, oxford university press, j mcrae, g s browne, a h ramsay

Ann Dale (nee Lees) was given this frame by her younger brother Thomas Chamberlain Lees, who was eighteen at that time. Thomas was the youngest son and seventh child of Lees and Sarah (nee Chamberlain) Lees. Ann loved her little brother’s artistic talents, which are demonstrated in this frame he designed and carefully carved for her. Thomas had cleverly finished the back with timber pieces around the images, and a section of a 1904 calendar. His “GOOD LUCK” is below the image of Ann, her husband Ellis Dale and their five children, c 1900. Sadly, Thomas died in 1911, aged 25. Ellis Dale’s father, William, was a quarryman who sailed from Yorkshire to Australia in 1852. He later bought land for Dale’s Quarries on the edge of Warrnambool in the area of Dale and Aberline roads. From the age of about eleven, Ellis and his brother worked in the quarry beside their father. In 1890 Ellis Dale married Ann Lees. Ann had lived nearby at Wangoom with her parents, Lees and Sarah Lees, who had had her photograph taken when she was a little girl, wearing her black dress. Ellis built a bluestone cottage for himself and Ann on his father’s land in Dales Road. He later added weatherboard rooms, and they named their finished home “Latrigg”. Early in their marriage Ellis recycled some empty dynamite boxes from their quarry to build a cupboard with drawers for Ann’s flat irons and other ironing equipment. The cupboard was used by future generations until recently, when Ann’s granddaughter, Betty Stone, donated it as part of the Chamberlain Dale Lees Collection. It is now in the kitchen of the Port Medical Office. Chamberlain Dale Lees family – local Colonial Pioneers Centre: Ellis Dale and Ann (nee Lees) and their five children - c 1900. Sons lvor William, Robert Ellis, Alfred John, and daughters - Elsie Mary Dale, and Daisy Elvena Dale. Top Left: Ann Lees - c 1868, (the little girl in the black dress) Top Right: William Dale Jnr. and Ellis Dale - c 1871 Lower Left: Ellis Dale and Ann (nee Lees), married 22 Jan. 1890 Lower Right: William Dale Jnr. and Agnes (nee Gillies), married 1883 Oval Photographs: unidentified but presumed to be family members [NB Spelling of Ann Dale – The spelling of Ann’s name has been confirmed by Betty Stone as being “Ann” (Not Anne), by phone conversation with Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, K P 14th April 2014] (Note: For additional information please refer to Betty Stone’s book “Pioneers and Places - A History of three Warrnambool Pioneering Families” ie. Chamberlain, Dale and Lees Families)This item is associated with the families of Chamberlain, Dale and Lees. These families are listed in the "Pioneers' Register" for Warrnambool Township and Shire, 1835-1900, published by A.I.G.S. Warrnambool Branch. The handmade frame is a unique example of clever craftsmanship and carving skills used by early pioneers with limited access to materials.Family photographs, nine, set into carved, solid wood frame, stained and lacquered. Carving includes leaves, flowers, a horseshoe and a ribbon with the words "GOOD LUCK" Photographs are of the Lees family of Wangoom, from the 'Chamberlain Dale Lees Collection’ Made by Thomas Lees for his sister, Ann. The little girl with black boots on is Betty Stone's grandmother. The back of the frame has a London calendar dated 1904.Words in carved ribbon "GOOD LUCK" Calendar for the year 1904flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, chamberlain, dale, lees, stone, betty stone, warrnambool pioneers, thomas lees, wangoom, ann dale, ellis dale, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, chamberlain, dale, lees, stone, betty stone, warrnambool pioneers, thomas lees, wangoom, ann dale, ellis dale, thomas chamberlain lees, handmade photograph frame, carved photograph frame, dynamite

A history of the Wood's Point and Jordan gold fieldsPaperback. Beige cover. Front cover has a black and white photograph of miners standing and sitting around a mine cart that is sitting on railway tracks at the entrance to a mine.Back cover has a cartoon drawing of a pack horse that has fallen down a cliff with his rider trying to pull him back up by his tail. Inside the cover is a drawn map entitled 'Map of the Mining District round Wood's point'.Stamp of the Marysville & District Historical Society Inc / P.O. Box 22 / Marysville 3779 gold, gold field, gold mining, gold town, wood's point, jordan goldfields, victoria, australia, history, r w christie

A history of the Wood's Point and Jordan gold fieldsPaperback. Beige cover. Front cover has a black and white photograph of miners standing and sitting around a mine cart that is sitting on railway tracks at the entrance to a mine.Back cover has a cartoon drawing of a pack horse that has fallen down a cliff with his rider trying to pull him back up by his tail. Inside the cover is a drawn map entitled 'Map of the Mining District round Wood's point'.Stamp of Marysville & District / Historical Society Inc / P.O. Box 22 / Marysville 3779 gold, gold field, gold mining, gold town, wood's point, jordan goldfields, victoria, australia, history, r w christie

This plate was used for serving carved meat at the dining table. This serving meat plate/platter dates to the 1914 to 1930's period in time. Generally fine bone china and crockery was imported. Pieces like this tray were often considered to be "good" crockery for use on special occasions.The item is an example of a piece of china used by local families in the early 20th century. It also has aesthetic significance.A large meat carving plate with a floral design around its rim. The plate is white china with pink and blue painted flowers. The edge is scalloped and painted with a gold edging.Underneath - H 4.....?domestic kitchen crockery, serving-plates platters food-preparation

Carving from stone of a figure of a monkey in a sitting poisition with it's tail in its mouth. Painted brown with cream flecks. Text and marking have been etched in to the stoneRicordo POW (ricordo translated means remember or memory)monkey, sculpture, ricordo, bilney r, ww 2 camp, handrafts, italian pow

One of a number of 'real photo' and commercial postcards created by or owned by members of the Christian and Washfold families of Kew. The postcards are part of a larger collection of photographs, postcards and publications donated to the collection in May 2021.Monochrome postcard of the fairies’ tree, signed by Ola Cohn. In this scene the sculptor is showing carving the tree. The postcard uses an image taken by a photographer from the Melbourne Argus newspaper.Th sculptor at work on her gift to the children of Melbourne / The Fairies Tree in the Fitzroy Gardens Melbourne / Sculptor Mrs Ola Cohn A.R.C.A. (London) / Photographed by the Argus Melbourne. A Real Photograph / Produced in Australia / Signed: "Ola Cohn"postcards. -- melbourne, ola cohen, fairies' tree, christian-washfold collection

This is a reprint of an original which was published in Melbourne by Butler &​ Brooke, Little Collins Street East. The original printer was W.H.Williams, 23 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne. On the spine was the title: Wood's Point and Gipps Land general directory, 1866.This is a copy of contemporary records of residents and businesses of Woods Point and Gippsland of 1866. It is a useful research tool.A soft covered 97pp book covered in clear plastic. The cover is blue with the title "Butlers Wood Point and Gippsland Directory" in black print with a black page border. It is a directory of residents, contemporary businesses (1866) and road guides. directory-gippsland-1866 butlers-directory

William A Ives worked in New Haven, Connecticut, and surrounding towns of Wallingford and Hamden from 1868 to 1917 and was a prolific inventor of braces and other wood boring tools between 1868 and 1884, when he received a dozen patents for these devices. William A. Ives lived in the New Haven CT area, and his first auger-making activity took place in the town of Hamden. At first in association with the Churchill family who had been manufacturing tools in the area at least as early as 1863. That firm's works had created "Augerville" in Hamden, starting earlier, possibly as early as 1830. Ives became active as part of the Hamden Manufacturing Co. until 1875 (it is thought he may also have started his own business in the interim), and the William A. Ives & amp; Co. was established by 1877. This continued, until William's death in 1888, when The Hamden Mfg. Company became its successor. Ives also registered the name "Mephisto" trademark name with the US patent office that was to be used in connection with augers, auger bits, machine bits as of June 1st, 1909, appearing on items up until at least 1922. It also appears that the trademark was licensed by the Mephisto Tool Co of Hudson New York who continued to manufacture tools under this trademark. Item is significant because its maker was the inventor of the wood auger boring bit and his patent has been used ever since on many different types of bits with little change to the original design.Auger wood screw bit W A Ives Patent Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

1.. Grandfather Colgan standing in Military uniform with 2 medals 2.. Mother and father Colgan ( of Miss Colgan ) mother in long black dress, lace robe, sitting holding umbrella. Father in black suit, white shirt, black tie, white handkerchief in pocket, top hat, standing holding umbrella. 3.. Brother of grandfather Colgan ( Miss Colgans great-uncle ) sitting in military uniform with 2 medals. Ornamentation on wooden frame with grey mount, under glass.Bartlett Bros Bendigo & David Wood Sth Melbourneperson, family, colgan family portrait

In the early 1970s, Arthur Boyd bought and restored a large, two-storey traditional farmhouse called Il Paretaio. Situated on the crest of a hill and surrounded by fields and olive groves, it is five kilometres from the village of Palaia in the province of Pisa, Tuscany. Boyd established this farmhouse as a residency programme, (which was later managed by the Australia Council). The residency program ended in 1990. Anthony Pryor undertook an Australia Council residency at Paretaio in 1984. This work is one in a series made during his time there. This work was entered into the Shire of Eltham Art Award in 1985.Pryor is an artist of national significance. This work is an example of his series of 'boxes' made principally for his own pleasure and often swapped with artists and other friends as soon as they were finished. The 'box' series was part inspired by Japanese techniques of wooden construction. Pryor first visited Japan in 1975 and was immediately drawn to Japanese methods of working with stone and wood. Many of these boxes are based upon the principles of the Japanese Zen Buddhist monk Sengai Gibon (1750-1838). This work relates to Sengai's famous hanging scroll Circle, Triangle and Square in which the circle can be read to stand for the cosmos, the square for the individual, and the triangle for aspiration. A heavy, box-like (cube) structure created from huon pine, with bronze, brass and stone elements. Within the cube is an eastern inspired, rear lattice wall in combination with bronze domestic fittings, and symbols (cube, pyramid and circle). Metal lightning, clouds and wooden rainbow hover over an asymmetrical bronze bed floating within the cube. A chair leans and a tilting ladder reaches towards the sky. Stamped into wood: lower right 'ANTHONY PRYOR PARETAIO'huon pine, pryor, brass, bronze, stone, cube, paretaio, italy, eastern, japan, sengai gibon, symbols, zen buddhism, sculpture, personal

A black and white photograph showing a small child sitting in a wooden box. There is a small black dog chained up and to the right of the picture. To the left of the photo is a large pile of wood stacked against a brick wall. Donald Hartley Rowe was born in 1876; married Mary Gibson in 1901 and died in Surrey Hills in 1958. In 1935 his daughter Winifred (1903-1985) married Phillip Sebastien Slavin (1907-1980), known as Paddy, who took over the business. He is first listed at 118 Union Road (no occupation noted) in the electoral roll of 1937 through until 1963. The bakehouse was at the rear – note the stack of wood required for breadmaking. The fence is along Stirling Crescent. The small boy is Alan Rowe. A black and white photograph showing a small child sitting in a wooden box. There is a small black dog chained up and to the right of the picture. To the left of the photo is a large pile of wood stacked against a brick wall.bakery, union road, surrey hills, (master) alan rowe, stirling crescent, (mr) donald hartley rowe, miss winifred rowe, mrs winifred slavin, (mr) phillip sebastien slavin

This is an example of Melbourne Legacy promotional material from 1998. Australian actors John Wood and Lisa McCune are shown with Legacy badges. They were in the very popular tv police drama 'Blue Heelers' at the time. It ran from 1994 to 2006. The main time of year for fundraising is September when Legacy holds 'Badge Week'. Often there is a celebrity who gives his or her time as 'Personality of the Year'. Examples are Sir Weary Dunlop (1992), Clive James (1993), the Scott family (1994), The Emmanuel brothers (1995), Daryl Somers (1996 and 1997), and Patsy Adam Smith (1994?). Was in a folder with marketing material from the 1990s to 2009, see items 01240 to 01258. The collection shows the types of marketing materials that were produced and the celebrities that were helping Legacy.An example of promotional material from the 1990s. Marketing material and photos were compiled and released to newspapers, also printed as brochures and sometimes as stickers and collection tin wrappers.Colour A4 promotional poster with a photo of Lisa McCune and John Wood for Legacy Week 1998.Has the Channel 7 logo and the logo celebrating Legacy's 75th Anniversary.legacy promotion, badge appeal, legacy week, advertisements, 75th anniversary

David FRAZER (1966- ) Born Foster, Victoria, Australia David Frazer works in painting, wood engraving, etching, lithography and bronze. He studied a B.A. Fine Arts (Painting) at Phillip Institute of Technology, followed by a Diploma of Education (Secondary- Art/Craft) at Latrobe University in 1991. He completed an Honours Degree in Fine Art (Printmaking (at Monash University in 1996, and between 1998 and 2000 Frazer undertook a Master of Arts (Visual Arts) by research: “Pastoral Melancholia”, at Monash University. One of Austalia's foremost printmakers David Frazer's highly detailed woodblock and linocut prints often explore the emotional and fragile state of the human condition. His work offers a nostalgic image of Australia through its examinations of landscape, Australian buildings, sheds, and itinerant travellers. He has held seven solo exhibitions between 1996-2006 in Melbourne, Sydney and a survey show curated by the Horsham Gallery, which toured Victorian regional galleries from 2004-2005. David Frazer’s work was seen in 37 group exhibitions between 1996-2006 including the 5th British International Miniature Print Exhibition in the UK, in the 2003. He more recently held a solo exhibition with Rebecca Hossack in London 2011. (http://www.thestockrooms.com/, accessed 06/03/2015) David was awarded the Keith Wingrove Bookplate Design and in 2002. These two wood engravings are the subject of the forthcoming Private Press book: ‘The Bookplates of David Frazer’ written by Robert C. Littlewood, The Lytlewode Press, Chateau Bosgouet, Normandie, France, 2014/2015. Two limited edition prints by David Frazer using the wood engraving technique. They have been framed together. .1) Messenger Wood Engraving Plate 10.0cm x 7.5cm Paper 29.0cm x 19.3cm Edition: 32/40 .2) Woe Wood Engraving Plate 10.0cm x 7.5cm Paper 29.0cm x 19.3cm Edition: 32/40 Donated through the Australian Government Cultural Gifts Programme by Katherine N. Littlewood, 2014artist, artwork, frazer, david frazer, wood engraving, framed bookplate, printmaking, bookplates, churchill, gippsland campus

Studio portrait of young lady in graduation gown in a wooden frame. Frame is made of wood and is of an irregular shape with decorative carvings surrounding the portrait. Decorative carvings were possibly painted gilt which has since largely worn away. Portrait is covered in glass. Portrait is of a young lady wearing a white dress with a graduation gown over it. She has a mortarboard with a tassel on her head with a large bow at the back and she is holding a scroll in her right hand. She has a locket around her neck and a brooch suspending a cross at her neck. Bracelets are on both wrists. The words Bartlett Bros Bendigo are printed on the bottom of the matte surrounding the photograph. Subject is probably either Mary or Kathleen Foster.Bartlett Bros Bendigophotograph, portrait, female

There has been a fair amount of confusion about this object as the paperwork states that a 'greenstone' gavel with a maori head carving and plaque mounted on green nephrite stone' was gifted when in fact the gavel is made of wood with a silver plaque. There has been no suggestion made as to what happened to the greenstone gavel. We can assume that it was lost or stolen and replaced with a plain wooden one that we now hold at ANZCA. From the attached plaque the Gavel was gifted to the Faculty of Anaesthetists by the New Zealand Fellows of the Faculty in 1965. Plain highly polished wooden pestle sits on a central walnut block on a flat wooden board, a silver plaque is attached on a piece of nephrite stone to one side of the board.[silver plaque] PRESENTED BY THE / NEW ZEALAND FELLOWS / 1965 [in black ink on back of stand] 1992/9aotearoa, new zealand, wood, nephrite, corporate gift

Item souvenired and possibly used by Kenneth Meadowbank McLeod No’s 4150 & 3840 AIF. Refer Cat No 1805P for his service history. .1) Carved wooden case with a detachable sliding lid containing a small rectangular mirror, carving depicts a mosque and a flower on front from Jerusalem. .2) Carved sliding lid.“Jerusalem”personal effects mirrors, handcrafts - woodwork, military history souvenirs, jerusalem

Carving chisel with rounded blade & wooden handle. Has a number but hard to read numbers are very blurred or missing. Has the word cast steel on blade. 185mm long. Small flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, carving chisel

(a) Silver-coated intricately patterned cake slide. Carvings on a floral theme are done in relief. Edges are irregular. The handle end features a female form reminiscent of a ship's figure head. The word "Italy" is engraved on the back of the slide in very tiny writing.

Hand-carved oak bible box with key from the Governor's pew in the chapel at Port Arthur, Tasmania. Identical carving on all four sides. There is a card taped inside the lid.Card: "This hand-carved Oak Bible Box came from the Governor's pew in the Chapel at Port Arthur in Tasmania. It was presented to me by Dr. Arthur Clark."

Hames are attached to a horse collar used to distribute the load around a horse's neck and shoulders when pulling a wagon or plough. The collar often supports and pads a pair of curved metal or wood pieces, called hames, to which the traces, which attach to the wagon or plough, of the harness are attached. The collar allows the horse to use its full strength when pulling. This pair of hames would have been used on a farm in the Orbost district.Horses were a vital part of the agricultural industry in Orbost before the mechanisation of farm machinery. This item is associated with that time.A pair of hames, joined together by a metal chain. Iron has been cased over wood to form the hames. Each has a hook attached and a ring.WARRANTED picture of bull's head FORGEDsaddlery equestrian agriculture horses hames

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

This medical bureau / cabinet shows several signs of being used for a different purpose before being a medical bureau. It once had the words "GENUINE PURE QUALITY" lettered across the top of the front, as can been still seen from the impression left behind in the stained timber. On each drawer above the handle is a faint impression of something long and rectangular, as though there had been a label attached. The front panel of the drawers is made of the same wood as the rest of the outer cabinet, most probably blackwood. The handles on the drawers are not the original handles either. There are 3 filled-in holes that would form the corners of a triangle, apex at the top, around the perimeter of the current handles. The sides of the drawers are made from plywood and the base made from alternating lengthwise strips of oak and beech wood pressed together, rounded corners at the back and joined to the front panel with metal brackets. The backs of the base of the drawers have four round impressions in them. Along the back edge of the base, in the centre, is a rectangular hole. Between the front pair of round holes is a faint black rounded marking, like the impression made by rubber. The cabinet may have once been a filing cabinet, with the drawers used as document drawers, each with a spring-loaded clamp attached to the back of them to secure documents within. The original handles could have been the half-cup type used for filing cabinets. The construction and use of plywood could place this cabinet in about 1950's.Chest of drawers (or Medical Bureau, or Apothecary Chest, or Filing Cabinet) wooden, dark stained, with 30 small drawers (10 rows, 3 columns). The outer wood of cabinet is possibly blackwood and the edges of top and sides have carved wood decoration. Drawer fronts have bevelled edges and round silver-coloured metal knobs. Drawers have plywood sides, and oak and beech wood bases/, Each drawer has four round depressions (in a square-shaped arrangement) at the back plus a small rectangular hole cut in the centre back of base. A faint impression from previous lettering is evident in the wood stain across top front of cabinet.Impression of previous lettering across top front of cabinet "GENUINE PURE QUALITY". flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, drawers, bureau, cabinet, chest of drawers, furniture, bedroom furniture, household storage, medical bureau, apothecary cabinet, document drawers, filing cabinet

Probably obtained as a trophy from the Boxer Rebellion in 1900-1, ChinaCase: wood, glass; Gun: wood, ironChinese inscriptions translated read: Manufactured by De-Sheng Gun & Cannon Factory; Feng-Shen-Miao, Tianjin; De Sheng means Virtue & Victory & Feng Shen Miao means Wind God Temple

Historically this item was used before the spirit and the electrical iron took over Circa 1930s -1950s. The main body of the iron was placed on a flat heated surface of a stove (wood, coal or gas fired). It was mainly used by women in their domestic role, ironing the family clothes and linen. In the Kiewa Valley the supply of coal or gas was not available or too expensive than the locally cut hard wood trees. This particular iron was an improvement on the fixed handled iron because it allowed (by use of its easily detachable handle) to use multiple bases and thereby allowing a constant heat supply to be maintained and not having to waste time for a base to reheat to the required level of application.The significance of this item was that it allowed for a faster method of ironing clothes and linen. It's invention was a progress towards reducing the time it took to undertake a very labour and intensive domestic function. The reduction of time taken for this household duty provided women great flexibility to undertake other activities. These type of improvements to basic domestic tasks liberated housewives not only physically but also mentally from the isolation of the home environment.This flat iron has a removable, clip-on handle. The handle and its release knob are of wood. The base of the handle together with the heavy flat body are made of cast iron. The body of the iron is oval shaped tapered at each end and is 40mm thick.Underneath the handle frame and on the main body, on one side, in raised lettering is "Mrs Potts" and on the other side "Iron". Both are clearly visible when viewed from an aerial position. Under removable handle and on a plate (screwed onto the main body) is "No 2"iron, antique, household, pressing clothes, domestic, laundry