The Wiener Werkstätte (Viennese workshops) established by Josef Hoffman and Kolomon Moser in 1903 are today celebrated for their work in promoting the involvement of artists, designers and craftspeople in the manufacture of home furnishings; however Sigmund Járay’s firm was also an important, although today lesser-known, Viennese manufacturer of Kunstmöbel (art furniture). An Austro-Hungarian designer of Jewish descent, Sigmund Járay (1838-1908) established his Kunstmöbelfabrik (art furniture factory) in Vienna in the 1870s in partnership with his brother Sándro Járay (1845-1916), a sculptor. The firm with its team of cabinet makers, modellers, sculptors, upholsterers, painters and gilders, manufactured bespoke furnishings and decorated interiors for public and private clients, including the Imperial court. Such was the prominence of the work of this factory, that in 1899 one of the first purchases of the newly formed Austrian Museum of Applied art was a suite of furniture designed by Sigmund Járay for a married worker. In commissioning the furniture, Slawa was adopting the custom of Viennese couples to furnish their homes with bespoke furniture from the interior design firms that flourished in early 20th century in Vienna. Comparative material is held in the National Gallery of Victoria collection; a suite of furniture by Josef Hoffman commissioned by the Gallia family in 1912; and a suite of furniture by Adolf Loos commissioned by the Langer family in 1903. Ann Carew 2016The bedroom suite is aesthetically significant for the quality of its craftsmanship and design. It is a significant example of domestic interior design in Vienna during the 1930s. The bedroom suite is intact, and has been preserved in its entirety – double bed and side tables, wardrobe and linen press, stool and day bed. It has the potential to be displayed in situ in the place where it was last in use. It is of historical significance. Many Jewish families had all their possessions lost or destroyed during the war years. The story of the furniture’s journey from Austria to Australia is relevant to the study of the experience of émigré families during the Holocaust, and the importance of return of their property. It is rare, as it and the furniture in the living and dining room, are the only known examples in Australia of furniture manufactured by the firm of Sigmund Jàray. The provenance of the furniture is excellent, and is demonstrated by photographs taken in Vienna; correspondence with the donor’s sister, Rella; and the quotation from Sigmund Járay Kunstmöbelfabrik. It is in excellent condition. Ann Carew 2016Bedroom suite consisting of a double bed, two side tables, an upholstered stool and upholstered day bed, and a wardrobe and linen press. Made of Maple and Rosewood. Designed by the firm of Sigmund Jaray with Slawa Horowitz-Duldig.

At the time of sale, the last of the Hirst family to work in the mill located in Geelong gave Donald (donor Bruce's father) Doherty a set of scales that had been used by several generations of Hirsts and adapted by them over time for specific use in their mill. These Scales were saved from waste and being thrown away at the time of sale to remain in use in the industry in the hands of someone who knew how to use them. The scales were used in calculating the weight of cloth and simultaneously calculating the amount of yarn required to weave it following the instructions printed within the box. The box bears the signatures of two Hirst family members, one being Lewis Hirst dated at 1898. The original brass pole has been replaced with a replica metal somewhere throughout the years after the brass pole broke through use. Hirst was brought by McKendrick in the 1960s and these scales sat for 12 months as part of the 12 month "cooling off" period. The scales were then handed to Donald rather than being disposed of.Scales used for weighing and calculating weight and thread count of textile samples. Originated from Godfrey Hirst Mills in Geelong. Writing describes how to utilise scales. Scales are made from brass, pole for holding scales once brass now replaced with metal pole. Scales held inside wooden box with black text in ink depicting use of scales on paper located inside and outside of box.Outside of box. Wording: APPARTUS for TESTING the WEIGHT per YARD of CLOTHS & COUNT of YARN from a small SAMPLE. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Indispensable to Manufactures, Merchants & handling Woollen, Worsted, Cotton, Linen, Jute, Hemp, Flannel, Felt, Army, Navy, Police, Railway, Sail & other Cloths -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- USED IN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The apparatus consists of Scales, Weights, 1, 2 & 4 sq. inch Cutting Templates & Book of Tables --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------By weighing a small Sample the accurate Weight in Ounces of a yard of Cloth any width from 18 to 64 inches, the Weight per Square Metre in Grams, the Counts* of Warp and Weft, and the approximate length of full & short ends of pieces of fabrics, [without unrolling and measuring for stocktaking & other purposes] can be ascertained without any Calculation --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Price in United Kingdom, 25s., Carriage Paid. Price to Canada & U.S.A. $6.75 do. H. Lord. 10, And Place, Bradford, England. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*When ordering, state on what system you base your YARN COUNTS. Inside of box. Wording: DIRECTIONS FOR USE --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------TESTING WEIGHT OF CLOTHS. Place sample to be tested on a piece of cardboard, put a Cutting Template on it, cut card and cloth round template with scissors and weigh it according to instructions given in Book of Tables. TESTING FOR YARN COUNTS. Cut out 1 square inch of cloth, draw out wrap or weft threads, according to which is being tested, and the number of inches so drawn, that balance respective weight is the approximate Count. The same rule holds good when number of inches are drawn from a bobbin. In testing from the cloth, allowance has to be made for loss or gain in the process of manufacture. Weight marked C is for Cotton Counts " " W " " Worsted " " " WS " " Woollen Skeins " " L " " Linen Counts. The weights for testing samples of cloth are 20, 10, 10, 5, 3, 2, 1, grains in brass & '5, '3, '2, '1 [tenths of a grain] in aluminium. Inside of box. Signtures, handwritten: Bottom right: Lewis Hirst !898 Top Left (Smudge ?) W Hirst !935godfrey hirst, hirst family, textile design, textile creation

Embroidered by donor - from Weldon's pattern.Cream linen square tablecloth. Cream and brown cotton one inch. Decorative 2cm Drawn threadwork around edge.domestic items, table setting

The cosy was made as a present.Tea cosy in a half circle shape. There is a scene appliqued on the front of a tree in green cotton fabric with a machine stitched hunk on the left hand side. There is a house appliqued on the right hand side. The roof of the house is deep blue cotton fabric and the house is in red cotton fabric. The foreground is of a cotton material with a cream background with 'grass' pattern on it in shades of green. The background is in blue fabric with a small red loop on the top.domestic items, table setting, manchester, table linen

Given to donor in 1958 as a wedding present.Six aqua table mats. Two cm herringbone fringe around edge. Six matching serviettes.manchester, table linen

Used by Mrs Jean Ashcroft, (nee Broad)originally from Galasheils ScotlandCream linen, drawn thread and cream embroidered. Tray cloth with cream knitted lace bordermanchester, table linen

Worked and used by Mrs Jean AshcroftWhite linen butterfly shaped cloth, folded to form tea cosy cover. Cover is embroidered with eyelet and cut work. Edge is finished with scalloped buttonhole work.nilmanchester, table linen

Made and used by Mrs Jean Ashcroft (nee Broad) originally from Galasheils ScotlandSquare hand crocheted doiley. Design of clover leaves in centre.manchester, table linen

Worked and used by Mrs Jean Ashcroft (nee Broad)White linen oblong cloth with cut and button hole work in centre and each cornermanchester, table linen

Used by Mrs Jean Ashcroft (nee Broad) and probably worked by her. She came from Galashiels ScotlandIvory rectangular tray cloth with a knitted lace edge and drawn thread work and embroidery in ivory of four circles of flowersnonemanchester, table linen

Used by Mrs Jean Ashcroft and probably worked by her. She came from Galashiels ScotlandWhite linen square with corner inserts of lace. Hemmed with scalloped hand crocheted bordermanchester, table linen

Purchased by Valda Arrowsmith for collectionOval shape embroidered flowers in centre, crochet edge all around tea cosy covernonemanchester, table linen

Used by Mrs Jean Ashcroft (nee Beard) Probably worked by her in scotlandLinen centre with drawn thread worked in shape of squares with hand crochet border and scalloped edgingmanchester, table linen

Used by Mrs Jean Ashcroft (nee Broad) and probably worked by her as she came from Galasheils ScotlandA round cloth, white with tape lace border attached to scalloped white linen. Lace includes four net inserts also decorated with tape designmanchester, table linen

Table centre was donated by Bette Jones from her collection of fine manchester.Tenneriffe Lace, square white cotton to form daisy like patterns measuring 5cm in diameter. Joined to centre of white linen and drawn thread square of smaller circles.domestic items, table setting

From the collection of Bette Jones.Tea Cosy, wool embroidery Jacobean design in pinks and greens on beige background.manchester, table linen

not knownCream linen supper cloth with wide border of machine made lace. From collection of Bette Jones.domestic items, table setting, handcrafts, lacemaking

From the estate of Jenny Lang, 11 Pearcedale Grove, NunawadingEcru coloured macrame tea cosyhandcrafts, macrame, manchester, table linen

Circular ecru coloured cotton crochet cloth. Centre has four circles and edges have crochet peaks.domestic items, table setting, manchester, table linen