Summary
Lithograph certificate from the Exhibition of Produce and Works of Industry, Melbourne 1854, awarded to Reginald Scaife, manager of the Kangaroo Office. The certificate was designed by Ludwig Becker. It portrays Indigenous people as well as a gold digger, farmer and pastoralist.
The Kangaroo Office was Australia's first privately run mint. The Gold & Civilisation catalogue records that 'Scaife...struck 27 sets of gold tokens for the exhibition...He also had the press moved to the Exhibition building...There he struck for sale commemorative medals made from tin from the Ovens River.'
Physical Description
Lithograph certificate from the Exhibition of Produce and Works of Industry. Below a figure of Victory with arms extended holding wreaths, an architectural device featuring a pastoralist, miner and farmer flanked by trees containing Australian fauna. At base on left is a young Aboriginal man, dressed as a bullock driver and placed in front of a church. On the base at right is a traditionally dressed older Aboriginal man, anxiously looking over his shoulder at the developing town of Melbourne. The certificate was designed by Ludwig Becker.
More Information
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Purchase
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Artist
Mr Ludwig Becker, Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1854
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Artist
Mr James B. Philp, Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1854
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Awarded To
Reginald Scaife - Kangaroo Office, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1854
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Place & Date Used
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Previous Collection
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Inscriptions
On Certificate: 'EXHIBITION OF PRODUCE/AND WORKS OF INDUSTRY/MELBOURNE 1854-PARIS 1855/This is to certify that W.R Scaife has been awarded a Bronze medal for ?? in the building/Education Office ?? Barry (signature) President/Melbourne. Followed by signatures of the Honorary Secretaries.'
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Overall Dimensions
63 cm (Length), 86.5 cm (Height)
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Exhibition Collection Management
630 mm (Length)
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References
National Museum of Australia, 2001. 'Gold and Civilization Catalogue.' National Museum of Australia, p. 56
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Keywords
Aboriginal Depictions, Australian Native Animals, Exhibitions: Melbourne, 1854, Gold