Archive File - Grip of Time

From the Collection of Kew Historical Society Inc Level 1, Kew Court House 188 High Street Kew Victoria

Description: Archive file containing both primary and secondary sources relating to the sculpture by Peter Schipperheyn (b.1955) - Grip of Time (1979) - installed on the north wall of the Kew Town Hall (now the Kew Library) in 1983. Mrs Laurel Abercrombie, a Kew resident, donated the sculpture to the City of Kew in 1982, and it formed part of the ‘municipal collection’ of the former City of Kew (now City of Boroondara). A note in the file records that prior to its installation on its current site; it was attached to a brick wall at the side of Abercrombie Galleries, Johnson Street, Collingwood. It was restored by the sculptor c.1996. The file contains two colour photographs of the sculpture and newspaper articles recording controversy at the time of its installation. The file also contains correspondence between the Society and the City of Boroondara relating to the plaque that was beside the sculpture.
Size: A4 Vertical File
Object Registration: 2017.0453
Keywords: kew historical society - archives, kew library, kew civic hall, kew town hall, grip of time, peter schipperheyn (1955-), artworks - kew (vic), city of kew - municipal collection
Historical information: Since its foundation in 1958, members of the Kew Historical Society have been compiling and storing information about subjects relating to the history of Kew and its environs, of which this file is an example. Typically files will contain primary and secondary sources.
When Made: 1982-2001
Last updated: 28 Nov 2018 at 8:51PM

Costume - Wedding Dress, Swiss Guipure Lace, 1969

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

Preview View Page

Artwork - "South Wing" - Xavier College / by Joy Stewart, 1978

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

Pen and wash drawing, set in an external card mount, depicting the south wing of Xavier College, Kew by Joy Stewart.

Significance

Joy Stewart was born in Melbourne 1925. She studied at Swinburne Technical College Art School from 1941-1945, then the National Gallery Art School 1946-1948. Her career included employment positions as a display artist, designer/painter, gallery assistant, and art teacher. Joy relocated to Cairns in 1981. Solo exhibitions in Melbourne and Cairns, including 'Done By Me' at Cairns Regional Gallery in 1999. Group exhibitions at Cairns Regional Gallery, 'The Fish John West Regrets, 1993' and 'Facets of Life' 1994.

Inscriptions & Markings

Inscription: "South Wing" - Xavier College." Signed lower right: "JStewart 78".

Preview View Page

Containers - [Pair of plastic milk bottles, Model Dairy, circa 1960]

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

Pair of plastic milk bottles, designated on the front as to be used in the refigerator on on picnics. One bottle has a red screw on lid and the other a green lid. The bottles are semi-transparent. [The record also includes a photograph of Vic Sabaliauskas, provided by his son. The photograph dates from the period when he was employed at the Model Dairy].

Historical information

This pair of milk bottles, produced for the Model Dairy in Cotham Road, Kew, were donated by Vik Sabaliauskas. They belonged to his father who worked at Model Dairy in the 1950s and 1960s. Vik wrote about his father: "As for my father, his whole life story is interesting. He was part of the big immigration program after WW2. He was a displaced person in Germany like lots of others who came out looking for a new life. Our family name is actually SABALIAUSKAS which is of Lithuanian descent. My Dad was also named Vik (Viktoras). He was known as Big Vik and I was little Vik. He arrived in Australia in 1947 and then did his 2 years of work organised by the Government and then he came to Melbourne. We lived in Tyler St Preston and he rode his pushbike to and from Kew every working day for years. In my estimation that was about 13 kms for about 6 or 7 years. Imagine that happening today. Freezing Winter mornings and hot Summer afternoons. His English was poor but he had a great work ethic like all European immigrants. His duties related to maintaining and operating all the machines. One story that he told me about was that after I was born (in 1959) he made friends with one of the drivers who delivered milk to the dairy. He asked him to get a container of milk from the farmer everyday which was just for me. I remember going to the Model Dairy Family Christmas parties which were always well patronised. I also remember visiting him in the PANCH Hospital (Bell Street Preston) where he was treated for kidney stones caused by drinking very creamy milk. He wasn't happy when he was told by the doctor to cut back on milk. My Dad was one month short of his 95th birthday when he died and he lived a pretty healthy life." (2019)

Inscriptions & Markings

Impressed on the front of both bottles: "Unbreakable picnic and refrigerator bottle made expressly for Model Dairy Pty Ltd Cotham Rd Kew"

Preview View Page

Personal Effects - Handkerchief sachet

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

Padded purple silk handkerchief bag/sachet with pink braiding and applied lace. The sachet contains three handkerchiefs bordered with lace.

Preview View Page

Newspaper article - Kew Floral, Art & Industrial Society

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

Article describing this 1897 local exhibition of art and industry, opened by the Mayor of Kew, Job Smith, which includes notable attendees and the award winning contestants.

Preview View Page

Document - Certificate of Exemption from Compulsory Attendance No,18744, 1891

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

Certificate of Exemption published by the Education Department, Victoria, stating that Amy Grigg had completed the required years of schooling under The Education Act 1872.

Preview View Page

Certificates - The Kew Floral, Industrial & Art Society, 1889

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

Five certificates awarded to Amy Grigg of Pakington Street Kew in competition for prizes awarded by the Society. The certificates are stored in the 'Kew Floral, Indutrial & Art Society' archive file with other items relating to Amy Watson (née Grigg) the mother of Joy Ivory. A supporting document, a newspaper article from 1889, accompanies the documents.

Historical information

The exact dates in which the Kew Floral, Industrial and Arts Society flourished is unclear. We do know however that it was part of a more widespread series of completions involving 'juveniles' from church Sunday schools in the 1880s and 1890s. The newspaper article which is part of this collection of documents, while undated, states that the exhibition grew out of the activities of the Congregational Church Sunday School in Walpole Street, Kew (Vic)

Significance

The items in the Amy Grigg collection, including awards, items of appliqué and embroideries etc reveal much about the artistic and social activities in a suburb like Kew in the late 1880s.

Preview View Page

Costume - Embroidered Vest Tunic, 1970s

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

Black wool vest with a lace up front. The vest is heavily embroidered in an abstract multicoloured floral motifs. It is lined with a fine olive green silk.

Significance

The McIntyre Collection of women's clothing and clothing accessories forms one of the largest single donations to the Kew Historical Society's costume collection. The Collection was assembled by Dione McIntyre, and her daughter Annie McIntyre, and donated in stages during the first decade of the 21st century. Items in the McIntyre Collection include clothing and clothing accessories worn by four women in the Cohen and McIntyre families across three generations. Most of the items in the McIntyre Collection were owned and worn by the Melbourne architect, and Kew resident, Dione McIntyre. These mainly date from the 1960s and 1970s, and include evening wear, day wear, hats and shoes. Examples of clothing worn by her range from a Norma Tullo mini-dress to elegant, tailored evening wear by Jinoel of Melbourne. As Dione McIntyre often accompanied her husband, fellow architect Peter McIntyre, to formal events, there are a number of pieces of high-quality evening wear among the items donated. The McIntyre Collection also includes items worn by woman in the family of an earlier generation: by Lilian Cohen, Dione McIntyre's mother, and by her mother-in-law, the wife of the architect Robert McIntyre. At the other end of the chronological spectrum are a number of outfits belonging to, worn and donated by Annie McIntyre. These include outfits created by notable late 20th century Australian and international fashion designers such as Fiona Scanlan, Martin Grant and Vivienne Westwood. The McIntyre Collection is significant historically and artistically in that it includes examples of design that demonstrate changing tastes in fashion over an 80-year period. The collection is particularly important in that it includes the work of a large number of Melbourne fashion designers from the 1960s to the 1980s. This work is both representative, and now often rare.

Preview View Page

Costume - Evening Dress: Cream Silk, 1970s

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

Cream silk evening dress with applied ribbon and flowers. The dress has a high round neck and buttoned sleeves and cuffs. It has a zip at the back with hooks and eyes at the neck.

Significance

The McIntyre Collection of women's clothing and clothing accessories forms one of the largest single donations to the Kew Historical Society's costume collection. The Collection was assembled by Dione McIntyre, and her daughter Annie McIntyre, and donated in stages during the first decade of the 21st century. Items in the McIntyre Collection include clothing and clothing accessories worn by four women in the Cohen and McIntyre families across three generations. Most of the items in the McIntyre Collection were owned and worn by the Melbourne architect, and Kew resident, Dione McIntyre. These mainly date from the 1960s and 1970s, and include evening wear, day wear, hats and shoes. Examples of clothing worn by her range from a Norma Tullo mini-dress to elegant, tailored evening wear by Jinoel of Melbourne. As Dione McIntyre often accompanied her husband, fellow architect Peter McIntyre, to formal events, there are a number of pieces of high-quality evening wear among the items donated. The McIntyre Collection also includes items worn by woman in the family of an earlier generation: by Lilian Cohen, Dione McIntyre's mother, and by her mother-in-law, the wife of the architect Robert McIntyre. At the other end of the chronological spectrum are a number of outfits belonging to, worn and donated by Annie McIntyre. These include outfits created by notable late 20th century Australian and international fashion designers such as Fiona Scanlan, Martin Grant and Vivienne Westwood. The McIntyre Collection is significant historically and artistically in that it includes examples of design that demonstrate changing tastes in fashion over an 80-year period. The collection is particularly important in that it includes the work of a large number of Melbourne fashion designers from the 1960s to the 1980s. This work is both representative, and now often rare.

Preview View Page

Textile - Matyo Apron, Northeast Hungary

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

Rectangular apron worked in three panels, the lower two of which are backed. The waist tie is of a floral fabric. The tape is attached to both vertical sides. There is a black fringe attached to the bottom panel over floral printed fabric. The needlework techniques employed in the embroidery include flat stitch which is used to create the effect of quilting and creating large brightly coloured flowers in the middle section.

Historical information

The Matyó region of Hungary, which includes Mezökövesd is known for its rich costume traditions, specifically embroidery. Matyó embroidery is a densely-patterned style of free-hand work in rich and colorful floral motifs. Its prime era was the 1860s and 1870s when the folk arts thrived. This example characterizes the dynamic color combinations and flower varieties of the Matyó tradition.

Significance

The textile is part of a large and significant collection of items donated by Rosemary Vaughan-Smith, past member and office-bearer of the Kew Historical Society. between 2005-12. The collection includes costumes, scrapbooks, autograph books, artworks and objects.

Preview View Page

Textile - Paisley Shawl, 20th century

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

Machine woven paisley shawl, based on traditional hand-woven Kashmiri designs, produced in large numbers in Europe in the second half of the 19th and also in the 20th centuries. The first mechanised production of such shawls was made possible by the invention of the Jacquard loom in France in the 1820s.

Preview View Page

Textile - Japanese embroidered panel

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

Multi-coloured silk embroidery on a deep pink silk backing fabric of vines, flowers and leaves, featuring a central embroidered medallion of pheasants amongst wisteria blossoms. The pink silk base fabric has condition problems including damage due to exposure and folding. There may be some evidence of shattered silk.

Historical information

The textile is part of a large and significant collection of items donated by Rosemary Vaughan-Smith, past member and office-bearer of the Kew Historical Society. between 2005-12. The collection includes costumes, scrapbooks, autograph books, artworks and objects.

Preview View Page

Textile - Souvenir of Palestine, circa 1939-45

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

Rectangular blue faded to grey velveteen water damaged textile with a plain white cotton backing with a red fringe. The front of the textile is embroidered in red, yellow, blue and white chain stitch. It shows two palms flanking the Mosque of Omar lower centre with three camels and a man on a horse below, Rachel's Tomb with tree upper left and David's Tower upper right.

Historical information

Souvenir probably bought by an Australian soldier in the 2nd A.I.F., and brought back to Australia as a souvenir.

Inscriptions & Markings

"Souvenir of Palestine"; "Rachels tomb"; "Mosque of Omar"; "David's Tower"

Preview View Page

Textile - Scarf, embroidered with a needle, north Indian, 19th century

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

North Indian scarf [or girdle], hand-loomed of fine wool and heavily embroidered by needle at the ends and sides with multicoloured silk thread surrounding the central rectangular black field. The highly detailed embroidery includes stylised images of foliage and flowers. There is old damage to parts of the textile.

Historical information

The embroidered scarf was donated to the Kew Historical Society by Janet Gibson.

Preview View Page

Textile - Panel: Cotton Applique on Linen, 19th Century

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

Textile comprised of five panels which are all appliquéd by hand in herringbone stitch using a range of decorative figurative motifs of varying sizes and shapes including flora and fauna. The base textile is a cream linen while the appliquéd figures or shapes are made of printed cotton. The quality of the herringbone stitching is very fine. Additional embroidery in red wool is more amateurish. The main panel is bordered by a narrow green and ecru braid. It has a narrow tan braid at the top and bottom of the two side panels. A surrounding tan braid around the entire textile is missing in some places. The textile shows evidence of being used as a decorative hanging.

Preview View Page

Costume - Blue Woollen Two-Piece Suit, 1960s

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

Navy blue heavy woollen suit comprising a short waist-length jacket and skirt.

Preview View Page

Costume - Cocktail Dress: Gold Satin with Beading on the Bodice / by Phil Bacon, 1950s

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

Gold satin cocktail dress, gathered at the waist with beading on the bodice, designed by Phyl Bacon.

Historical information

Phil Bacon was one of a number of Melbourne fashion designers who emerged in Melbourne following the Second World War.The outfit was once owned and worn by a resident of East Kew.

Preview View Page

Costume - Uniform for Female Librarians, Kew Library, 1980

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

Royal blue Kew Library uniform, manufactured by Neat & Trim Career Wear made of 65% polyester and 35% rayon. The uniform is closed by a zip.

Historical information

Female librarians at the Kew Municipal Library in the City of Kew (Vic) were in the past required to wear standard royal blue uniforms. This uniform, the earlier of two in the collection was manufactured by Neat & Trim Career Wear.

Preview View Page

Costume - Uniform for Female Librarians, Kew Library, 1972

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

Royal blue Kew Library uniform, manufactured by Neat & Trim Career Wear. The fabric is 65% polyester and 45% viscose. It is buttoned at the front.

Historical information

Female librarians at the Kew Municipal Library in the City of Kew (Vic) were in the past required to wear standard royal blue uniforms. This uniform, the earlier of two in the collection was manufactured by Neat & Trim Career Wear.

Preview View Page

Costume - Minicrini: Blue Wool / by Vivienne Westwood, 1980s

Kew Historical Society Inc, Kew

Blue woollen 'minicrini' by the British designer Vivienne Westwood. The items was donated by Annie McIntyre and probaly worn with an accompanying Westwoood twinset.

Significance

The McIntyre Collection of women's clothing and clothing accessories forms one of the largest single donations to the Kew Historical Society's costume collection. The Collection was assembled by Dione McIntyre, and her daughter Annie McIntyre, and donated in stages during the first decade of the 21st century. Items in the McIntyre Collection include clothing and clothing accessories worn by four women in the Cohen and McIntyre families across three generations. Most of the items in the McIntyre Collection were owned and worn by the Melbourne architect, and Kew resident, Dione McIntyre. These mainly date from the 1960s and 1970s, and include evening wear, day wear, hats and shoes. Examples of clothing worn by her range from a Norma Tullo mini-dress to elegant, tailored evening wear by Jinoel of Melbourne. As Dione McIntyre often accompanied her husband, fellow architect Peter McIntyre, to formal events, there are a number of pieces of high-quality evening wear among the items donated. The McIntyre Collection also includes items worn by woman in the family of an earlier generation: by Lilian Cohen, Dione McIntyre's mother, and by her mother-in-law, the wife of the architect Robert McIntyre. At the other end of the chronological spectrum are a number of outfits belonging to, worn and donated by Annie McIntyre. These include outfits created by notable late 20th century Australian and international fashion designers such as Fiona Scanlan, Martin Grant and Vivienne Westwood. The McIntyre Collection is significant historically and artistically in that it includes examples of design that demonstrate changing tastes in fashion over an 80-year period. The collection is particularly important in that it includes the work of a large number of Melbourne fashion designers from the 1960s to the 1980s. This work is both representative, and now often rare.

Inscriptions & Markings

A note written by Dione McIntyre accompanying the item describes its relevance and use: "Vivienne Westwood 3-piece ensemble purchased in London in the 1980s - consisting of navy 'twin set' and balloon skirt - worn with long white socks and dark flat shoes. Donated by Annie McIntyre."

Preview View Page