Dame Nellie Melba was born Helen Porter Mitchell in 1861 and took the stage name of Melba after her home town of Melbourne. Dame Nellie went on to become one of the most successful and highly regarded sopranoes of the late 19th a nd early 20th centuries. She had a number of Farewell tours as she neared the end of her career. When Dame Nellie Melba was a house guest of Miss Florence Lake at "Lyndoch" Warrnambool during her farewell tour in 1927. The bag was purported to have been given to a house maid in recognition of favours done. An item owned by Dame Nellie Melba............ WDHS also has a program from Dame Nellie Melba's Farewell Tour.Ladies evening purse "Made in France" Beige/ecru silk on canvas backing, heavily beaded and sequinned in beige and coffee, some pearl decoration, with an ornate enamelled button closure mechanism for a press stud. Two fabric handles also heavily beaded. A scalloped shape with gusseted side insertions.Bag is too fragile to open.nellie melba, evening bag, warrnambool, lyndoch warrnambool, florence lake, warrnambool

This pretty folding silver lorgnette appears European in styling and may be French. The extensive scratching on the lenses indicates many years of use. This form of lorgnette was popular in the mid to late nineteenth century.This lorgnette is significant to the collection as one of the most ornate.Silver folding short handled lorgnette with pivoted bridge and ornamental loop handle. Round convex lenses badly scratched.lenses, glasses, lorgnette, folding spectacles

This set is an example of personal grooming items commonly used by women in the first half of the 20th centuryAn oval shaped hairbrush with short handle. it is silver coloured and ornately embossed. The bristles are natural and the back and handle are possibly tin/silver plated?

This trowel was presented to John Russell, director of Orbost Butter Factory for fiftyyears and Chairman for nine years. John Russell was an early Orbost blacksmith in Orbost, and director of the Orbost Butter Factory for 50 years. He came to Orbost in c. 1890 at the invitation of another early settler, James Nixon, became a blacksmith, and later a farmer and landholder. Many of his descendants still live in the Orbost area.This item is significant because of its association with the Orbost Butter Factory as well as the connection with the Russell family, Orbost pioneers.A silver (plated?) trowel ornately decorated with engravings. It is attached to a bone(?) handle with a silver metal ferule. the trowel is triangular with a scalloped lower edge.Presented to John Russel Esq.; Chairmen of Directors ;To Commemorate the Laying of; Foundation Stone; of the Orbost Butter and Produce; Coy's New Factory; 22.9.15 on right hand side : silver marks - crown, lion H.G.H.russell-john orbost-butter-factory

Lusterware is a type of pottery or porcelain with a metallic glaze that gives the effect of iridescence. The technique on pottery was first developed in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) in the early 9th century. It is produced by metallic oxides in an overglaze finish, which is given a second firing at a lower temperature in a "muffle kiln", or a reduction kiln, excluding oxygen. The Lusterware effect is a final coating applied over the ceramic glaze, and fixed by a light second firing, applying small amounts of metallic compounds (generally of silver or copper) mixed with something to make it paintable (clay or ochre). This is then fired in a reducing atmosphere at a temperature high enough to "soften" the glaze from the first firing, and break down the metallic compounds, leaving a very thin ("perhaps 10 or 20 atoms thick") layer that is fused with the main glaze, but is mainly metal. Lusterware normally only uses one colour per piece, and the range is limited a "gold" derived from silver compounds was historically the most common. The process has always been expensive and rather unpredictable, always requiring two firings, and often the use of expensive materials such as silver and platinum. The very thin layer of luster is often delicate, and many types of Lusterware are easily damaged by scratching removing the metallic layer, or by contact with acids. Lusterware has therefore always been for display and occasional use, although by the 19th century it could be relatively cheap. Many pieces show the luster effect only working correctly on parts of the surface, or not at all. An item probably made in Staffordshire UK where this type of pottery was popular in the late 19th century by unknown pottery as the subject item has no marks. The teapot at this time cannot be associated with a historical event, person, or place, provenance regards manufacture is unknown, item assessed as a collection asset given it was produced before 1950.Teapot ceramic ornate copper lusterware abstract floral design handle has a protruding sculptured bird for thumb grip. Nonewarrnambool, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, teapot, tea set, kitchen ware, ceramic, lusterware, pottery, staffordshire uk, pottery finishes

The hair brush is part of a vanity set owned by a woman who lived in the Harbour Master's house at Warrnambool in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The set was possibly a wedding gift from her mother-in-law, Caroline Edwards, a local business woman who was an importer of 'china and fancy goods' along with her husband Thomas Myers Edwards. The Edwards owned Staffordshire House a business in Timor St (and later Liebig St) from 1876. The hair brush is an example of a valued possession of women at the time and could signify social standing. It was also a functional accessory used on a daily basis.The item is significant socially as an example of accessories available to and used by women in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Historically, it is linked to a local import business ‘Staffordshire House’ in Liebig St Warrnambool, where it most likely came from. A pewter (or possibly silver-plated) hair brush that is part of a vanity set. It features a beautiful ornate moulded rose/flower design on the back and handle of the hair brush. The hair brush insert is most likely made of celluloid, it no longer has bristles and is purely ornamental. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, maritime village, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, vanity set, pewter, silver plate, toilet set, harbours master's house, staffordshire house, hair brush, hairbrush, brush, celluloid

A shaving scuttle and shaving mug were developed around the 19th century with the first patent for a shaving mug dating to 1867.[8] As hot water was not common in many households, one way to provide hot lather was to use a scuttle or mug. A traditional scuttle resembles a teapot with a wide spout where hot water is poured in, and this is where it differs from a shaving mug, which has no spout. Both shaving scuttles and mugs usually have a handle, but some have none. Shaving mugs often look like a standard mug, however, some also have a built in brush rest, so the brush does not sit in lather. Modern versions of the scuttle are in limited production, usually by independent potters working in small volumes.[9] At the top of the scuttle or mug is a soap holder. Traditionally, it was used with a hard block of shaving soap (rather than soft soap or cream) and therefore had drain holes at the bottom. Later scuttles and mugs do not include the holes, and thus can be used with creams and soft soaps. Some scuttles and mugs have concentric circles on the bottom, which retain some water thus helping to build lather.[9] In use, the shaving brush is dunked into the wide spout, allowing it to soak into the water and heat up. The soap is placed in the soap holder. When needed, one can take the brush and brush it against the soap, bringing up a layer of lather; excess water is drained back. This allows conservation of water and soap, whilst retaining enough heat to ensure a long shave. Source: www.wikipedia.org Local social historyOrnate white china mug with handle. Cup side to hold brush and saucer shaped top with 3 drainage holes. Gold painted decoration and flower garland of pink and yellow roses. Mother of pearl effect over sides.Made in Germanyshaving, item, china, mug, bathroom, men, personal, toiletry

Silver plate inscribed trophy cup,with two handles and a lid. Mounted on wooden base, with presentation plate attached. Very ornate decorations. The lid is surmounted by a cricket batsman 80mm high.Presented \ by the \ Bright Brewery Compy. \ to the \ Cricket Clubs in the Bright Shire \ 97-98cup, trophy, cricket, silver, bright brewery, sport, recreation

Petit Fours Tray, silver, four ornate legs (1 missing) silver-soldered on to tray, central carry handle missing. Artefact Reg No S/87. Recovered from the wreck of the Schomberg. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, petit fours tray, schomberg

When the ship Schomberg was launched in 1855, she was considered the most perfect clipper ship ever to be built. James Blaine’s Black Ball Line had commissioned her to be built for their fleet of passenger liners. At a cost of £43,103, the Aberdeen builders designed her to sail faster than the quick clippers designed by North American Donald McKay. She was a three masted wooden clipper ship, built with diagonal planking of British oat with layers of Scottish larch. This luxury vessel was designed to transport emigrants to Melbourne in superior comfort. She had ventilation ducts to provide air to the lower decks and a dining saloon, smoking room, library and bathrooms for the first class passengers. At the launch of Schomberg’s maiden voyage, her master Captain ‘Bully’ Forbes, drunkenly predicted that he would make the journey between Liverpool and Melbourne in 60 days. Schomberg departed Liverpool on 6 October 1855 with 430 passengers and 3000 tons cargo including iron rails and equipment intended the build the Geelong Railway and a bridge over the Yarra from Melbourne to Hawthorn. The winds were poor as Schomberg sailed across the equator, slowing her journey considerably. She was 78 days out of Liverpool when she ran aground on a sand-spit near Peterborough, Victoria, on 27 December; the sand spit and the currents were not marked on Forbes’s map. Overnight, the crew launched a lifeboat to find a safe place to land the ship’s passengers. The scouting party returned to Schomberg and advised Forbes that it was best to wait until morning because the rough seas could easily overturn the small lifeboats. The ship’s Chief Officer spotted SS Queen at dawn and signalled the steamer. The master of the SS Queen approached the stranded vessel and all of Schomberg’s passengers were able to disembark safely. The Black Ball Line’s Melbourne agent sent a steamer to retrieve the passengers’ baggage from the Schomberg. Other steamers helped unload her cargo until the weather changed and prevented the salvage teams from accessing the ship. Local merchants Manifold & Bostock bought the wreck and cargo, but did not attempt to salvage the cargo still on board the ship. They eventually sold it on to a Melbourne businessman and two seafarers. After two of the men drowned when they tried to reach Schomberg, salvage efforts were abandoned.32 In 1975, divers from Flagstaff Hill, including Peter Ronald, found an ornate communion set at the wreck. The set comprised a jug, two chalices, a plate and a lid. The lid did not fit any of the other objects and in 1978 a piece of the lid broke off, revealing a glint of gold. As museum staff carefully examined the lid and removed marine growth, they found a diamond ring, which is currently on display in the Great Circle Gallery.33 Flagstaff Hill also holds ship fittings and equipment, personal effects, a lithograph, tickets and photograph from the Schomberg. Most of the artefacts were salvaged from the wreck by Peter Ronald, former director of Flagstaff Hill. The Schomberg, which is on the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR S612), has great historical significance as a rare example of a large, fast clipper ship on the England to Australia run, carrying emigrants at the time of the Victorian gold rush. She represents the technical advances made to break sailing records between Europe and Australia. Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from the Schomberg is significant for its association with the shipwreck. The collection is primarily significant because of the relationship between the objects, as together they have a high potential to interpret the story of the Schomberg. It is archaeologically significant as the remains of an international passenger Ship. It is historically significant for representing aspects of Victoria’s shipping history and for its association with the shipwreck and the ship, which was designed to be fastest and most luxurious of its day Fish Fork, Handle missing, encrusted, tip of one tine missing and ornate hole in base of head. Artefact Reg No S/85. Recovered from the wreck of the Schomberg.warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, schomberg, shipwrecked-artefact, clipper ship, black ball line, 1855 shipwreck, aberdeen clipper ship, captain forbes, peterborough shipwreck, ss queen, fish fork

A Bread fork was mainly used in Victorian times, when touching food was frowned up. Even in common households, you had to have a bread fork to help yourself to the bread from a bread basket in the middle of table. Bread was an important part of any meal, and would be served as a side dish to most dinners, so bread forks were in common to use. More expensive ones would be made from silver and be very ornately decorated. An engraved, silver-plated Bread fork with a bone handle cutlery, forks, cheltenham, moorabbin, early settlers, bentleigh, silver-plate, bread forks, victorian etiquette,

Prior to the installation of gas and electric light, pioneers used candles for lighting after sunset. This ornate candle-stick holder most likely was used in the bedroom. The family of Miss May Curtis were early settlers in Moorabbin ShireSmall white ceramic candle stick holder with pink and yellow floral transfer-printed decoration on the rim. There is also a small raised area on the rim to hold a candle-snuffer. On one side there is a small ceramic "loop" attached as a carrying handle. This item broken beyond repair by brush tailed possum when he entered Cottage via chimney 27/4/2014furnishings, lights, lamps, candles, early settlers, pioneers, moorabbin, bentleigh, ormond, brighton, kitchenware, curtis may, market gardeners

Six walking canes shaped from natural timber. 7543a Light coloured wood with top carved in shape of a snake head. 7543b Light brown wood with T shape carved top. 7543c Dark brown branch with bark intact. Natural branch at 30 degrees cropped at top. 7543d Thin dark brown bamboo like straight walking stick. Ornate carved knob at top. 7543e Light brown straight walking stick of three pieces of wood spliced together. Curved top spliced in place. Lacquered and polished. Metal band attached below hand grip (1.5 cm wide.) 7543f Rough natural branch with natural handle at 30 degrees angle.walking sticks, wooden objects, natural wood

A large silver plated jug presented by W.Chambers Esq to Junior Cricket Clubs season 1890 - 91, won by Welcome Alberts C.C. (Eaglehawk Cricket Assoc) with ornate decoration around top, base & spout, decorative handles on jug & hinged lid, white porcelain removable lining & a removable lid held on by 2 thumb screws, engraved on side "Presented by W.Chambers.Esq. to Junior Cricket Clubs Season 1890 - 91 Won by Welcome Alberts C.C.MF'D & Plated by Reed & Barton Patented Aug 4 1868 May 18 1878 1930clubs, cricket, eaglehawk, bendigo-eaglehawk-cricket-trophies

Textiles. Brown velvet handbag with ornate decorative silver metal frame with slide clasp. Silver metalchain carrying handle with three metal rings attaching tow pieces of chain. Lined with brown leather. Name written in pen inside handbag , possibly C.Martin, difficult to read.textiles, domestic, ladies brown velvet handbag

The donor of this gift, Professor John Gibbs, has played an important role in the history of ANZCA as a board member of the first ANZCA Council. In the late 1980s Professor Gibbs was President of the New Zealand Society of Anaesthetists and in 2004 received the ANZCA medal for his major contributions to the status of anaesthesia. The muffineer set was presented in a custom made box bearing the manufacturer's mark 'Nanking Store', active in Shanghai, China from the late 19th century until early 20th century. Each item in the set is stamped with the makers mark and character of a rooster. It is unknown as to the symbolism of the rooster, however, it may have represented the Chinese year of the rooster. It is possible this is a Chinese export silver piece, as a result of increased export trade to the West in the early 20th century. Chinese export silver were made in foreign taste for export, in particular common items such as tea and coffee sets. A Muffineer is a small container with a pierced top for sprinkling sugar, salt, spice, or other powder. It gained its name from its early use for sprinkling sugar or salt on muffins and were part of the Victorian tableware. After the First World War and the change of life style, this was later referred to as sugar shakers.A sterling silver muffineer set of Queen Anne revival with tray. Muffiner set contains 3 silver shakers (muffineer), 6 silver condiment dishes on stand 3 with lid and handle, 10 small, rounded spoons, 10 blue, glass inserts for condiment dishes. The set comes with a custom made presentation box, lined with beige silk. The box proper is lined in dark blue velour with individual sections cut out to sit each set piece. Each piece is hallmarked except four spoons. Large heavy oval shaped silver tray with extended loop rope designed handle on either side decorated with a very ornate fern leaf pattern design etched into the entire base of the tray. [printed in gold lettering on beige fabric inside lid cover] Chinese name of manufacturer in Chinese characters / NANKING STORE / GOLD AND SILVER SMITHS / 444 SZECHUEN ROAD / SHANGHAI / markers mark and Chinese characters [hallmarks on condiments dishes] NKSTERLING / SILVER / character of rooster [hallmarks on muffineer] NANKING / SILVER / character of rooster [hallmarks on spoons - 6 only] NANKING / character of rooster [hallmarks on tray reverse] 19722 number scratched into surface.professor john gibbs, nanking store, chinese export silver, muffineer, sterling silver

In the 1600s, William Harvey realised a finite amount of blood circulates in one direction through the body. Jean Léonard Marie Poiseuille introduced the mercury hydrodynometer in the early 1800s for measuring blood pressure. Karl von-Vierordt created the sphygmograph in 1855 and, in 1881, Samuel von Basch created the sphygmomanometer, distinct improvements on the hydrodynometer. In 1896, Scipione Riva-Rocci developed the mercury sphygmomanometer. American neurosurgeon, Harvey Cushing, was an early adopter, and advocate for monitoring patients during surgery and anaesthesia. Blood pressure monitoring is still an essential component of evaluating a patient’s condition.This blood pressure kit is housed in a rectangular, vinyl covered box with metal handle and press-stud lid release mechanism. The lid opens upwards and the glass blood pressure valve and plastic scale is attached to the underside of the lid. The measurements are written in black and go up in increments of ten, from 0 to 300. The glass valve has unidentified increments labelled in red, which is housed within a metal cylinder. The bellows is attached to the measuring valve via a dark green pressure cuff and rubber hose.Blue sticker affixed inside the kit: JOHN MARUM Ornate manufacturer's label: THE ARMOURED / ELLISCO / SPHYGMOMANOMETER / MADE BY / ELLIOTTS & AUSTRALIA DRUG / [indecipherable] LTD / CENTEN[indecipherable] MODELharvey cushing, blood pressure, measurement, anaesthetics, john marum, sphygmomanometer, elliotts & australian drug pty ltd, centenary model, cuff, bellows, ellisco, armoured

Seal/stamp black cast-iron embossing machine with ornate gold and red decoration and a turned wooden handle. The seal in the machine is that of the Wesleyan Church of Victoria Property Trust. "The Methodist Church "Victoria" Property Trust" "Common Seal"methodist church (victoria) property trust

Ornate silver backed hand mirror with handle.personal effects-toilet requisites, cosmetics

Ornately embossed sterling silver backed hand mirror with handle.Initial 'H' engraved on silver frame .|Sterling Silver Hall Mark stamped.|On back of mirror ink stamped 'Glace de France'personal effects-toilet requisites, cosmetics

Silver plated ornately decorated with flower pattern, knife and three pronged fork with mother of pearl handles. English made.domestic items, cutlery

Collected by Harold Bakes from a shop (Eileen Conlon's) in Surrey Hills.Small ornate bell shaped metal container with a hole at side which string protudes. Cotton stored inside. Decorations include 'Mathews, Marcus, Lucas. Johannes. Handle.handcrafts, equipment

Star of David Lion's Head handle With cordweapons, ballarat rsl, ballarat

Japanese sword woven fabric handle with shark skin and floral badges. Tsuba is ornate with tassel.Scabbard is covered with black shark skin with brass sword hangers.

Japanese sword, Pitted blade handle been replaced with wood and duct tape. Tsuba is ornate and intact. Scabbard still has shark skin leather in outer casing.

Asian sword. Bone handle with wooden handle with shark skin covering. Brass fittings.Ornate blade

Black wooden mantle clock with pendulum bob, made in U.S.A. by the Sessions Clock Company, mounted on ornate metal feet with metal handles on each end, four faux marble columns in green with metal tops & bases. Round gold dial with black numerals and hands, brass bezel with flat glass. 8 day time and strike, chiming the hours on a gong and half hour on a bell. Original paper label on back with manufacturers details and operating instructions.The Sessions Clock Cohorology, clocks, mantle