Australiana, Vol 37 no 2, May 2015

The first update to my book Convict and Free: the Master Furniture-makers of NSW 1788–1851 will be available on CD in December, with at least two new chapters, on Thomas Mercer Booth and John McMahon. However, Australiana members may be interested to learn now that a reader from Ireland has provided me with details of the businesses run in Ireland by two of the cabinet-makers covered in the book. The first is James Templeton, to whom Andrew Lenehan was apprenticed both in Ireland and in Sydney. It was already known that he ran a business in Dublin, but the details were uncertain. Kevin Fahy, Christina Simpson and Andrew Simpson suggested in Nineteenth Century Australian Furniture that he might be the man by that name who was in business at 6 Henry-street, Dublin, in 1835.

The practice of presenting diplomatic gifts to dignitaries goes back to antiquity. As the much-admired wife of the governor of the colonies of Queensland, New Zealand and Victoria, Diamantina, Lady Bowen received some significant pieces of jewellery and metalwork. These gifts were frequently, and often fulsomely, described in contemporary newspapers. Dianne Byrne investigates some of her presentation pieces, through newspaper accounts and images.

A collection of flower paintings by Adrian Feint, belonging to his friend and fishing companion Les Godden, came to light last year when they were sold at auction. Catriona Quinn researches the background of this collection, the work of Adrian Feint and his artistic friendships.

This soft-paste porcelain mug, 8.7 cm high and 9 cm diameter, is painted in overglaze enamels on a Wedgwood “Barlaston” blank dated 1947. Feint’s choice of this Wedgwood form, together with the incorporation of the date 1947 and the letters J F as key elements in the design, suggests an awareness of the notable commemorative and other mugs that English artist Eric Ravilious (1903–42) designed for Wedgwood in the late 1930s.1

Colonial Australian jewellery is rarely marked with the name of its maker or retailer. Perth jewellery dealer Trevor Hancock sticks his neck out and attributes several pieces to the German-born Adelaide jeweller C. E. Firnhaber, based on stylistic similarities of the works. All of them are illustrated here.

World War I began 101 years ago. Galleries all around the world, including many in Australia, are having exhibitions with memories of this war. The Gallipoli campaign is particularly significant to Australians and New Zealanders this year, with the centenary on the first landing on 25 April 1915, and the withdrawal of the last Allied troops in January 1916. Dr Annette Gero is curating an exhibition of war quilts, and here she reveals some of the quilts that will be displayed at Manly Art Gallery and Museum from July.

The Art Gallery of South Australia is showcasing for the first time over 50 examples of Australian decorative arts given to the Gallery by Adelaide psychiatrist Dr Robert Lyons, who had assembled one of the finest private collections of South Australian decorative arts.