Historical information
Frank Fearn created the painted pine table top in the early 1890’s. It was displayed in the establishment of Messrs Watts and Glasier, Bath Corner, Bendigo in January 1891, and described in the ‘Bendigo Advertiser’ as being a ‘work of art’ and having ‘a circle in the centre in which some ferns have been very nicely painted’ in an interesting allusion to his surname. ‘Around the circle are likenesses of about a couple of hundred public men representing the clergy, politics, law, sports and leading local residents’. There are also some women in the likenesses, however, not mentioned in the article. The portraits are ‘life-like and considering that they are all worked out in pen and ink only the result is really surprising’ (Bendigo Advertiser, 28th January 1891, p2)
Frank Fearn (1836 – 1896) was a well known artist across the goldfield and, particularly, in his work on illuminated addresses ‘he had no superior and he enjoyed a monopoly in this line’. However, his work was not limited to a narrow field; being also known for his expertise in the theatre where he was a scene painter.
Frank was born in Devonshire in 1835, migrating to Australia in 1852 on the ‘Henry Gillespie’. He spent some time as a scene painter at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne before trying his luck on the goldfield without much success. He then resumed his former profession painting scenery at the Lyceum Theatre, Bendigo. He was a member of the Bendigo Road Board during that time.
He later spent time living at Tarnagulla where he leased the Theatre Royal and founded the ‘Easton and Bussey Troupe’. By 1871 he was in Dunolly, where he was appointed Land Officer for ten years. He founded the Dunolly Free library’ was Secretary of the Dunolly Philharmonic Society and a member of the Borough Council. He then went to St. Arnaud, where he leased the Railway refreshment rooms on the occasion of the opening of the rail line.
His final twelve years were spent again in Bendigo. He was a witty and satirical author of articles in the ‘Bendigo Advertiser’, writing amongst other sketches, the ‘Chronicles of the Golden City’.
On the occasion of Mark Twain’s (Mr. S.L. Clemens) visit to Bendigo in 1895, Frank Fearn presented him with an illuminated letter of welcome, organised in to a book form.
Frank died in December 1896.
(Bendigo Independent (Vic. : 1891 - 1918), Thursday 24 December 1896, p 3)
Physical description
A round wooden tabletop. The middle section has brown coloured images of ferns and is surrounded with a gold coloured decorative pattern. The outer section is filled with various sized faces of men and women who appear to be from the late 19th century. The initials F. F. (Frank Fearn) and 1890 are inscribed on the table top. Gold leaf edging surrounds the outer edge of the table. The bottom of the tabletop has a two centimetre diameter and eight centimetre long metal rod with half centimetre wide slot in the centre of the table top, presumable to hold legs.
