Historical information

Mr JH Quinton of Olinda, Victoria had the unusual hobby of carving coconut shell. Over a 50 year period he carved thousands of curios and household articles. Supplies of coconuts were sent to him by his brother in Singapore.
Known in the Dandenong Ranges as "The Coconut King", he carved many series, including Australian animals, likenesses of hundreds of men prominent in public life, tableaux of sporting activities, including a series depicting cricket strokes, a coconut tea set, butterflies, buttons and boxes.
Mr Quinton was an engraver and his considerable can be seen in the fine detail and sense of movement he was able to capture in his carvings.

Physical description

A collection of figurines carved from coconut shell, brown in colour including animals, sporting activities, tableaux of everyday life and prominent people. Each figure is attached to a thin, wooden base to enable it to stand.