Historical information

This vase was gifted to the Faculty by Dr Walter Wyndham Biggs upon his retirement from the Faculty Board in 1981. Dr Biggs was the first flying anaesthetist of the Flying Surgeon Service based at Longreach in central Queensland. The vase is hand painted by Dr Biggs mother, Bessie Biggs. The manufacturer of the vase, Furstenberg, is one of oldest and most renowned porcelain makers in Europe since 1747. Made in West Germany, the makers mark is found at the base of the vase marked with a blue under glaze symbol of a crown, script F and a number 9.

Physical description

Porcelain vase of bulbous form and narrow neck with gold trim on lip. Black and white hand painted scene of flying geese above a body of water surrounded by reeds.

Inscriptions & markings

[hand written on base in black ink] Handpainted / by / Bessie Biggs / 1981
[embossed on base] 7405/30
[Blue under-glaze on base] symbol of crown / cursive script F / 9 / FURSTENBERG / SEIT 1747 / WEST GERMANY
[Artist signature on painted surface] B BIGGS