Historical information
Decorative object made by silversmith Ernest Leviny.
Physical description
Silver mounted emu egg goblet with detachable silver lid decorated with a kneeling Aboriginal figure holding weapons (spear is missing). Emu egg is mounted on a silver base with filigree acanthus leaf designwork on the stem, leading to four sprays on the egg surface with a rose, thistle and shamrock design. The inner egg is lined with a gold wash.
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.
