‘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, 1981These are containers for miso. The wooden box, a product of Osaka, is lacquered in black on the outside and in bright red on the inside. The binding of split bamboo, in natural colour, gives it a sturdy look. - Professor Hideyuki Oka, curator.japanese art, japanese packaging, tsutsumi, gift giving

The clock was purchased from Jas Murray & Co. of 107 Bourke Street East, Melbourne by Francis Barnard. James Murray & Co were well known clock and watchmakers operating from premises in London with branches in Calcutta and Melbourne. They were watchmakers and jewellers in Melbourne from 1860 to 1888. Francis Barnard established Barnard’s Pharmacy on the corner of Bulleen Road (later renamed High Street) and Cotham Road in 1857. In the early 1860s, after purchasing the clock, he placed it in his pharmacy where it could be seen by passers by. When he relocated across the road to 49 Bulleen Road (now 167 High St.) in 1880 he took the clock to the new premises. He maintained the accuracy of the clock so that local residents consulted it for the correct time, even after the Post Office building with its clock tower was opened in 1888. When Francis Barnard retired, his son took over the pharmacy. In 1925, the Barnard Pharmacy was sold to David Paton. The Paton’s were at first puzzled why people constantly peered in the door until they realised that the timepiece was the drawcard. When David Paton died in 1941, his widow sold the pharmacy but took the clock with her to her new florist shop at 145 High Street. When Mrs Paton retired in 1953, she took the clock to her home in Boronia. In 1973 her daughter donated the clock to the Kew Historical Society.Significant locally to Kew as an example of a timepiece that was used by the local community during the 19th century to tell the time.Barnard’s clock is a typical wall clock of the nineteenth century, variants of which could be seen in shops, offices, public buildings and stations. It has a mahogany case with a moulded wooden bezel encasing a hinged brass bezel housing the glass face which protects the dial and hands when working. The clock face has an off-white hand painted tin dial with black painted Roman numerals. The hands are black painted metal; the hour hand has a wide spade shaped point whilst the minute hand is much thinner. ‘Jas Murray & Co’ is painted above the centre, with ‘107 Bourke Street East’ and ‘Melbourne’ below, with the key hole in between. The clock movement is a fuse chain attached to a brass mainspring barrel which powers the pendulum for eight days. This is housed within a rectangular wooden casing with a convex curved base housing a hinged door giving access to the pendulum which is attached to the back of the clock by four wooden pegs.Jas Murray & Co / 107 Bourke St East / Melbournefrancis barnard, f g a barnard, high street - kew (vic), pharmacies - kew (vic), clocks, paton's pharmacy --- kew (vic.), bulleen road -- kew (vic.)

In August, 1920, The Kew Town Council decided to establish a Baby Health Centre in Kew. The first Centre was opened in a room in the Town Hall in Walpole Street on 5 November 1920. In May 1939, the Railway Commissioners agreed to lease a site at the Kew Railway Station for a Baby Health Centre for a term of 21 years at 3 pounds per annum. A building, designed by Roland Chipperfield, was erected, and the Centre previously conducted at the Town Hall transferred there. This became known as the Denmark Street Baby Health Centre. (Cr. W.D. Vaughan, Kew’s Civic Century, W.D. Vaughan Pty Ltd., Kew, 1960, pp.96 & 97.)One of a pair of wooden puzzles used in the Denmark Street Baby Health Centre in Kew.denmark street baby health centre - kew (vic), baby health centres - kew (vic), games and puzzles

In August, 1920, The Kew Town Council decided to establish a Baby Health Centre in Kew. The first Centre was opened in a room in the Town Hall in Walpole Street on 5 November 1920. In May 1939, the Railway Commissioners agreed to lease a site at the Kew Railway Station for a Baby Health Centre for a term of 21 years at 3 pounds per annum. A building, designed by Roland Chipperfield, was erected, and the Centre previously conducted at the Town Hall transferred there. This became known as the Denmark Street Baby Health Centre. (Cr. W.D. Vaughan, Kew’s Civic Century, W.D. Vaughan Pty Ltd., Kew, 1960, pp.96 & 97.)One of a pair of wooden puzzles used in the Denmark Street Baby Health Centre in Kew.denmark street baby health centre - kew (vic), baby health centres - kew (vic), games and puzzles

Pair of matching wooden bookends featuring a yacht against clouds and an orange sky.bookends, books

A straight razor is a razor with a blade that can fold into its handle. They are also called open razors and cut-throat razors. Steel cut straight razor with ebonised wooden handle in a leather part casepersonal effects, razors, shaving equipment

Produced as a promotional item by Brown Gouge, a dry-cleaning company with agencies across Victoria - including one at Kew - hence the "X3101" labelling (being Kew's postcode, as introduced in 1967).Locally significant. A locally targeted promotional item, albeit a useful and functional item. Most similar items would have had a limited life and thus they are now likely to be uncommon.Clothes brush, with a brown stained / lacquered wooden handle and a single-row of black, stiff brush hairs. Inscribed on one side of the wooden handle: Gouge - The Successful DRY CLEANERS AND DRYERS - X3101clothes brushes, brown gouge

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

A wooden chest (.1) containing lawn tennis and badminton equipment, specifically: a tennis net (.2); a badminton net (.3); net posts (.4 - .5, 3 parts each); guy ropes (.6 - .7); stick (.8); pegs (.9 - .12); a fold-out stool (.13); and a mallet (.14). Extra, (probably non-original), objects are: guy ropes (.15 - .16); pegs (.17 - .20); mallets (.21 - .22). Black and green lithographic print on inside of lid features the image of a mixed doubles amtch, with inscription: TENNIS. Materials: Wood, Metal, Lacquer, Cord, Ink, Paper, Rope, Cloth, Painttennis

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

The company Liesegang was founded in 1854 and until 2004 as Ed. Liesegang oHG in Dusseldorf, and was a specialist German manufacturer of projection technology .Slide projector in wooden case with slide holder attached to the inner wall of the box. The box has a sliding lid. The slider is marked with the name of the object and the manufacturer: Blenschieber 5 x 5 / Ed. Liesegang, Dusseldorf. Given that Liesegang (1854-2004) were a major manufacturer of slide projectors, it is probable that the entire projector, slider and case were made by this manufacturer.Blenschieber 5 x 5 / Ed. Liesegang, Dusseldorfslide projector, liesegang

A large device for drying laundry consisting of two rollers between which the wet laundry is squeezed (or wrung); a mangle. American English uses the term 'Wringer' whereas UK English uses the term 'mangle'. Later devices were typically electrified.Large mechanical hand cranked household laundry mangle with hardwood rolls and metal fittings. Information about the equipment is stamped/incised on both the metal and wooden frame.Household Clothes Mangle /American Wringer No 120 / Inc Metal Bearings / / Hardwood Rollslaundry equipment, household mangle, wringer

A washboard is a tool designed for hand washing clothing. The traditional washboard was usually constructed with a rectangular wooden frame in which are mounted a series of ridges or corrugations for the clothing to be rubbed upon. In the 19th-century, the ridges were often of wood; by the 20th-century, ridges of metal were more common. Later examples substituted corrugated glass of plastic for the metal.A domestic glass and wood wash board designed for use with a wash tub. Annotation: "Donated by Mrs Grove (daughter of Dorothy ( Allan) Edwards-Flint".wash boards, laundry equipment

The official records of the Lioness Club of Kew, of which this object is a part, are held in trust by the Kew Historical Society.The Lioness Club of Kew was the first Lioness Club in the Melbourne area. As such its records are of Historic and Social Significance as a record of post-war community organisations run by women. As the records were donated to the Kew Historical Society as a place of deposit, they are well provenanced. They comprise albums, objects, and a history of the Club so provide a complete picture of the Club's operation.Brass Bell, with attached wooden gavel. The bell was used in meetings of the Kew Lioness Club from about 1978 to 1992. The wooden gavel was made by Ray Boothroyd. The bell is engraved with the names of past presidents of the Kew Lioness Club."Lioness Club of Kew / Past Presidents / Helen Joyce 1978-1979, 1979-1980 / Dorothy Cameron 1980-1981 / Valerie Newbegin 1981-1982 / Prue Molnar 1982-1983 / Edna Cartwright 1983-84 / Helen Joyce 1984-1985 / Kathleen Holgate 1985-1986 / Deborah Davis 1986-1987 / Lynette Bell 1987-1988 / Prue Molnar 1988-1989 / Judy Brown 1989-1990 / valerie Ayres 1990-1991 / Deborah Davis 1991-1992"lioness club of kew, women's groups - kew - (vic), bells

This mantel clock is one of a number of objects gifted to the Kew Historical Society in 2015. A number of the items relate to F.C.M. McArdle, the donors' father. Others belonged to his relatives. Some of the items testify to the family's close connection with the Sacred Heart Church in Cotham Road, Kew. A wooden mantel clock presented to Mr F. McArdle by the Kew Catholic Young Men’s Society on the occasion of his marriage. The date engraved on the plaque is 29 June 1936. F. McArdle was the father of the three McArdle family members who are donating the item. The donors were born at 3 Wills Street, Kew.cyms (kew), kew catholic young men’s society, mantle clock, f.c.m. mcardle

Presentation to the Sergeants' Mess of 8/13 VMR by Cadre Staff member Sergeant RC Tetley when leaving the regiment at the completion of his posting. The presentation of a gift of this type was a common practice in regimental circles.A bespoke object with relevance to the character of an RAAC regiment using as it does a shell case from a fighting vehicle used by 8/13 VMR and indicative of business procedure in Mess meetings.Chairman's gong made of a chrome plated 76mm shell case suspended from a chrome plated metal frame mounted on a stained wooden base. Silver 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles Regiment hat badge is mounted on front side of base. Stained wood and chrome plated metal gavel sits on two rests on rear side of base. Small engraved plaque attached to base at rear.On presentation plaque: "Presented to 8/13 VMR Sgts Mess by 2782108 Sgt RC Tetley Dec 1984"; and markings on base of shell case: "76mm ARMD C PW 175 ME 1970"sergeants' mess, 8/13 vmr, tetley

The 13th Light Horse Regiment (AIF) was raised at Broadmeadows Victoria in March 1915. The regiment took pride in their inauspicious number and adopted the nickname 'the Devil's Own' and wore a black ostrich plume in their hats. The regiment also obtained an unofficial badge featuring a dancing devil. A rare example of a plume worn in military headdress in World War One. It is well provenanced. in good condition and complete.Framed set of ostrich plumes in light black wooden frame with glass front."Original issue plumes as issued to 13 Light Horse Regt prior to the introduction of Emu plumes. Presented by 13 ALH (AIF) Assn"13th light horse, military, light horse, wwi

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. Four miniature paper fish that have multicoloured stripes. Each fish has a piece of metal in its mouth. The other part of the game is two tiny wooden fishing rods with cotton attached to metal rods. The aim of the game is to attach a rod to a fish. The six items are stored in an orange and green patterned cardboard box that is probably not original.games, magnetic toys

The Victory Jig-Saw Puzzles were made by Gerald Hayter in England between the late 1920s through to the 1970s. They had wooden pieces and were very popular in the 1940s and 1950s. The puzzle was owned by the donor's mother, Iduna Miles (nee Sutton).A Victory Jig-Saw puzzle in its original cardboard box. Victory Jig-Saw puzzles were a popular series made by Hayter & Co., Bournemouth, UK.jig-saw puzzle, hayter & co, victory jig-saw puzzles

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.Wooden drafts board with the counters contained in an internal drawer.drafts, board games, leisure activities

Solitaire is a game for a single player that is played with pegs or marbles on a wooden board. The game consists of 32 marbles and a wooden board with 33 dents in it. The game is set up by placing 32 marbles in 32 dents, leaving the centre dent empty. The aim of the game is to remove every marble except one – and the last one must end up in the centre dent.To remove a marble, you have to move one marble over another marble, landing in an empty dent. Marbles can move up, down, left or right but never diagonally.Plain cardboard box with colourful graphic design of the game on the lid. The box encloses the round wooden playing board while the plastic marbles are contented in plastic wrapping in their own compartment. A note in pencil on the lid of the box, written by the donor, notes that three of the 36 marbles are missing.Label on box: "SOLITAIRE / THE WELL_KNOWN / GAME / Full Instructions Enclosed / Made in Germany"board game, games and puzzles, board games -- solitaire

Due to the generosity of a number of donors, the Kew Historical Society has a wide range of games and puzzles in its collection; typically designed for children's use. A number of the puzzles are European-made, generally of British origin, however there are a number that were made for the Australian market by Australian manufacturers. Ball shaped wooden assembly puzzle requiring the user to fit the pieces together. The ball is varnished.toys, puzzles, assembly puzzles, wooden ball puzzles

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. Yellow painted wooden game with a beehive lid on a pedestal base. There is a red ball underneath the cap.cup-and-ball game, games and puzzles

Cylindrical cardboard container containing wooden fiddlesticks.Fiddlesticks / Exciting Entertaining Tantalizing Game. patent pending No.7516fiddlesticks, games and puzzles

Chad Valley produced fine hand-cut wooden puzzles in the 1920s and 1930s. A UK-base dcompany they commenced as a printing business in 1820. They diversified into toys including teddy bears and games from the late 1910s. It is interesting to note that the A.A. Milne Winnie-The-Pooh' books were first published in 1916, 1927 and 1928. 120-piece Chad Valley wooden jigsaw puzzle. Made at Harborne, UK, circa late 1920s. In original book-shaped box with Winnie-the-Pooh on one side and an owl on the reverse. Complete. This puzzle was a gift of Enid Barker of Derby Street, Kew.Jig-Saw Puzzle / 120 wooden pieces / Chad Valleychad valley, winnie-the pooh, games and puzzles, jigsaw puzzles

This Mathematics learning aid was made in Australia by the Cuisenaire Company of Australia under licence . These wooden number rods were invented by Belgium school teacher Georges Cuisenaire, who wrote a book about them in 1952 (Les Nombres en couleurs). Cuisenaire rods with booklet and box, wood / metal / paper, made by the Cuisenaire Company, Australia, 1965-1980. This object consists of a sheet metal box, containing 10 compartments, each with a single size of wooden blocks in different colours. The shortest block is 1 cm long, next 2 cm, etc., longest is 10 cm long. ORIGINAL CUISENAIRE (R) NUMBERS IN COLOUR / (R) MADE IN AUSTRALIA UNDER MR CUISENAIRE'S LICENCE BY CUISENAIRE CO OF AUSTRALIA P/Lcuisenaire, educational resources, mathematics learning aids

At the beginning of the 20th century the toy industry was based predominantly in Germany. During the First World War, imports from Germany were banned and the British government instead encouraged toy-making in Britain, as it helped the economy and provided jobs for ex-servicemen. Around this time, English manufacturer E. A. Lott devised a new system of bricks suitable for assembling small buildings. Together with a cardboard roof and instructions, Lott started selling these bricks as Lott’s Bricks in 1918. Lott’s Bricks eventually became even more popular then Anchor blocks, which were produced on the same principles by Richter, the well-known German manufacturer of construction toys. Lott’s success was assured when Queen Mary bought a set from him at the British Industries Fair in 1918. A number of sets were later produced, each with its own series, including Modern, Lodomo and Tudor. The bricks were the last of the old-fashioned composition blocks, which were later superseded by the very different styles exemplified by Minibrix, Bayko and Lego. Lotts Brick’s Ltd ceased to exist in the 1960s. (Source: V&A Museum)Toy with model building materials in wooden box with manufacturers label on lid. Th label pictures a white brick house with two equidistant chimneys. Included in the box are blocks to be used in building the house. These are in different shapes and sizes. The roofing panels are preformed.Manufacturer information and description lott's bricks, toy blocks, construction 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.Quoits. 4 rope quoits and yellow wooden stand. Designed for two players.games, quoits