I FOUND THIS badge on the
ground a while back, when visiting ground a while back, when visiting
mmy parents’ farmy parents’ farm just outside of just outside of
PyramPyramid Hill in Victoria. Wid Hill in Victoria. We have e have
always wondered what it was and always wondered what it was and
how old it is, and whether the ‘Reg 86’ how old it is, and whether the ‘Reg 86’
mmarking refers to 1886. Warking refers to 1886. We do know e do know
the shire was Gordon at one stage. the shire was Gordon at one stage.
The little hook on the back fell off The little hook on the back fell off
only recently (trying to straighten only recently (trying to straighten
it out!). Wit out!). We hope you can give us e hope you can give us
somsome informe information about this little ation about this little
famfamily treasure. ily treasure. Fiona Anderson, Fiona Anderson,
EDMEDMONTON, QUEENSLANDONTON, QUEENSLAND
The Shire of Gordon, near the northern The Shire of Gordon, near the northern
border of Victoria existed fromborder of Victoria existed from 1885 to 1885 to
- This tag or badge is a registration 1995. This tag or badge is a registration
for an animfor an animal, a dog perhaps. It mal, a dog perhaps. It might ight
have been fixed to a collar, but tags were have been fixed to a collar, but tags were
also fixed to cows’ ears. The numalso fixed to cows’ ears. The number ber
mmight relate to the year of registration, ight relate to the year of registration,
but I can’t be certain of that. but I can’t be certain of that.
DetermDetermining mining more about the object ore about the object
mmight be diffiight be difficult. I suggest that you cult. I suggest that you
contact the largest library in the area contact the largest library in the area
If you have a precious (or simIf you have a precious (or simply mply mysterious) object that puzzles you, send your inquir y, along with a colour print or high-resolution digital ysterious) object that puzzles you, send your inquir y, along with a colour print or high-resolution digital
imimage, your suburb or town, and your day timage, your suburb or town, and your day time telephone nume telephone number, to Collectables, ber, to Collectables, Countr y StyleCountr y Style, Locked Bag 5030, Alexandria, NSW, Locked Bag 5030, Alexandria, NSW 2015, 2015,
or send an emor send an email to Nicola Sevit t at nicola.sevit t@ail to Nicola Sevit t at nicola.sevit [email protected]. The photographs m.au. The photographs must be clear and show the whole object against ust be clear and show the whole object against
a white back ground. Photographs will not be returned, even if they are not published.a white back ground. Photographs will not be returned, even if they are not published.
CCOOLLLLEECCTTAABBLLEESS
CURIOSITY
VA L U E O N LYJohn McPhee is an art historian
who worked in art mwho worked in art museumuseums s
for 30 years and was curator for 30 years and was curator
of Australian Decorative Arts of Australian Decorative Arts
at the National Gallery of Australia.at the National Gallery of Australia.5TH JEWELS. Some astounding
jewellery. Leonard Joel, Sydney.
leonardjoel.com.auleonardjoel.com.au
20TH FINE SILVER, ASIAN AND
DECORATIVE ARTS. The best of
antique and vintage. Shapiro, antique and vintage. Shapiro,
Sydney. shapiro.com.auSydney. shapiro.com.au
21ST 21ST FINE ASIAN, AUSTRALIAN
AND EUROPEAN ARTS AND DESIGN.
Sotheby’s Australia, Sydney.
sothebysaustralia.com.ausothebysaustralia.com.au
22ND COLLECTABLES. A focus
on toys and trinkets. Leonard Joel, on toys and trinkets. Leonard Joel,
Melbourne. leonardjoel.com.auMelbourne. leonardjoel.com.au
30TH 30TH OPERA AUSTRALIA’S
COSTUME AND MEMORABILIA.
Own a little artistic heritage. The Opera
Centre, Sydney. leonardjoel.com.auCentre, Sydney. leonardjoel.com.auA U C T I O N S
and ask about the existence of a local $100
history group. There mhistory group. There may be somay be someone eone
with local knowledge who can help.with local knowledge who can help.I HAVE HAD this blue and white
jar in mjar in my possession for a numy possession for a number of ber of
years. It stands about 3.5cmyears. It stands about 3.5cm tall and, tall and,
according to details on the base, it is according to details on the base, it is
mmade in Holland. Also noted are the ade in Holland. Also noted are the
numnumbers ‘169B’, the word ‘Delfts’ and bers ‘169B’, the word ‘Delfts’ and
another I can’t quite manother I can’t quite make out. There ake out. There
is an imis an image of a ramage of a ram’s head and the ’s head and the
word ‘ramword ‘ram’. ’. Laura Roberts,Laura Roberts,
DENILIQUIN, NSWDENILIQUIN, NSWBetween 1935 and 1945 the RamBetween 1935 and 1945 the Ram
factory at Arnhemfactory at Arnhem in The Netherlands in The Netherlands
used the ramused the ram head m head mark on their ark on their
‘Delfts blauw’ pottery. W‘Delfts blauw’ pottery. With its ith its
silvered lid this is a fine examsilvered lid this is a fine example of ple of
the continuing tradition of Dutch blue the continuing tradition of Dutch blue
and white ceramand white ceramics. The floral design ics. The floral design
dates back to when delft ceramdates back to when delft ceramics were ics were
first mfirst made in imade in imitation of Chinese blue itation of Chinese blue
and white porcelain in the 16th century. and white porcelain in the 16th century.
HHowever, you can see how the original owever, you can see how the originalGETTING STARTED
Assessing the age of an item is not
always easy —always easy — just because granny just because granny
owned it, does not automowned it, does not automatically matically make ake
somsomething old. Granny mething old. Granny may have ay have
bought it recently. Therefore the itembought it recently. Therefore the item
mmight be new, or old, so we need to ight be new, or old, so we need to
look for other indications of age.look for other indications of age.
Establishing the age of silver and Establishing the age of silver and
ceramceramics is usually the easiest. British ics is usually the easiest. British
silver has msilver has marks that determarks that determine an ine an
exact year and place of mexact year and place of manufacture, anufacture,
as well as a silversmas well as a silversmith. Mith. Manufacturers anufacturers
usually musually mark European and Australian ark European and Australian
silver. Ceramsilver. Ceramics are simics are similarly milarly marked, arked,
although somalthough some European potteries e European potteries
mmuddy the waters by muddy the waters by making use of aking use of
a ma mark simark similar to that of a familar to that of a famous, ous,
earlier factory. Jewellery is mearlier factory. Jewellery is more ore
diffidifficult because it is less often mcult because it is less often marked. arked.
Knowledge of style can help date it, but Knowledge of style can help date it, but
because there have been reproductions because there have been reproductions
Chinese design has been mChinese design has been made to ade to
resemresemble typical European ceramble typical European ceramic ic
decoration. The bottle was probably decoration. The bottle was probably
originally part of a set fromoriginally part of a set from a dressing a dressing
table and would have included several table and would have included several
different shapes to accomdifferent shapes to accommmodate things odate things
such as msuch as make-up and jewellery.ake-up and jewellery.of popular styles, such as Art Nouveau of popular styles, such as Art Nouveau
and Art Deco, caution is advised.and Art Deco, caution is advised.
WWhen dating furniture, style is hen dating furniture, style is
of the greatest imof the greatest importance, but the portance, but the
cautious collector looks at the surface cautious collector looks at the surface
for evidence of daily usage. Sanding for evidence of daily usage. Sanding
back and repolishing can confuse the back and repolishing can confuse the
issue.Look for evidence of repairs, old issue.Look for evidence of repairs, old
and new, and dust and wear in less and new, and dust and wear in less
obvious areas. These too can be faked obvious areas. These too can be faked
to mto make somake something look older.ething look older.
WWhen buying anything old, think hen buying anything old, think
about the style and any mabout the style and any marks that arks that
mmight assist in determight assist in determining use, ining use,
age and a mage and a manufacturer. Then look anufacturer. Then look
for evidence of wear and tear. If an for evidence of wear and tear. If an
itemitem looks new, it probably isn’t looks new, it probably isn’t
an antique —an antique — it could be a reproduction it could be a reproduction
or it mor it may have been restored so may have been restored so much uch
that its worth as an antique object that its worth as an antique object
has been destroyed.has been destroyed.CCOOL L E CL L E CTATABBL E SL E SCCOOUUNNTTRYRY S T S TYYL EL E JUNE 2017 1 3 3JUNE 2017 1 3 3