The British Arts and Crafts Movement was a major influence on handcrafts made by the Leviny women at Buda. This Movement spread knowledge of craft techniques in the decorative arts and encouraged women to partake in fields that had traditionally been the domain of men, such as metalcraft and woodwork. The Leviny women studied art, design and craft techniques at the Castlemaine School of Mines from the 1890s to the early 1900s and this boot stool, hand-carved by Gertrude, is an example of the influence of the Arts and Crafts Movement on her decorative art. See: Zilles, Lauretta (2010), Buda and the Leviny Family, Castlemaine: Buda Historic Home & Garden Inc.This is a rare example of a unique hand-carved boot stool made in Australia by Gertrude Leviny in the British Arts and Crafts Movement style at the turn of the twentieth century.Timber boot stool, hand-carved by Gertrude Leviny. Made using the 'chip carving' technique, with dragon heads on upright at one end, and plant design in relief on the seat. Timber finish has a blackened effect.'K/40' (Old Registration Number)gertrude leviny, wood carving, arts and crafts movement, buda, castlemaine, dragon's heads, c1900, domestic furniture, castlemaine school of mines

Original design by Dorothy Leviny, aged 25, while she was a student at the Bendigo School Of Mines under the tutelage of Arthur T. Woodward. Woodward, who had come to Australia from Britain, was a renowned proponent of the Arts and Crafts Movement in Australia during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Dorothy Leviny, along with two of her sisters, entered a number of items in the First Australian Exhibition of Women's Work, Melbourne, 1907, and was awarded second prize for one of her wallpaper designs. Dorothy Leviny was the ninth child born to noted colonial silversmith and jeweller, Ernest Leviny, and his wife, Bertha (nee Hudson).This original wallpaper design by Dorothy Leviny is one of few that remain in existence from the early twentieth century showing the influence of the British Arts and Crafts Movement in Australia.Original wallpaper design made by (Bertha) Dorothy Leviny painted in watercolour. The repetitive floral design consists of pale pink bell-shaped flowers with green stems and leaves. Paper, card, watercolour paint.'D. Leviny /06'.dorothy leviny, watercolour painting, arts and crafts movement, 1906, buda, castlemaine, arthur t woodward, bendigo school of mines, exhibition of womens work 1907, wallpaper design, illustration