Historical information
Decorative object made by Ernest Leviny probably to sell in his jewellers and watchmakers shop in Market Square Castlemaine.
Physical description
Silver mounted emu egg goblet with gold-wash interior and cast emu figure on lid. Silver stem has elaborate scrolled ribbon design and cast decoration topped by four heads of the god Pan. Filigree silver design of grapes and vine leaves above base. 'Egg' rests in 'cup' of filigree feathers/shell and acanthus leaves. Lost wax casting method used.
Inscriptions & markings
None
Subjects
References
- Ernest Leviny (1818-1905): Colonial Silversmith & Jeweller This is the story of Ernest Leviny, Hungarian silversmith and jeweller, who lived and worked in Budapest, Paris and London before coming to the goldfields of Victoria in 1853 and settling in Castlemaine. Leviny left his mark as a colonial silversmith of note, creating two masterpieces: the Gold Inkstand on a Redgum base and the Silver Standing Cup (now in the National Gallery of Victoria Collection , Melbourne). From 1863 Leviny developed his Villa home, Buda, set in 3 acres (1.2 hectares) of garden where he and his wife, Bertha Hudson, raised a family of ten children.
