Item HT 62025 Brooch - Joseph Lawrence, Kookaburra, Painted Porcelain, Melbourne, Victoria, circa 1920

Summary

Oval painted porcelain brooch featuring a kookaburra made by Joseph Lawrence, Melbourne, Victoria, circa 1920.

In the early part of the twentieth century china painters and studio potters, usually women, earned pin money by painting small oval or round blank porcelain plaques. The blank plaques usually came from Germany and in most cases were painted with images of Australian flora and fauna, mainly to supply the tourist market. Once painted, the plaque was glazed and taken to a jeweller for mounting as a brooch in silver or more often, gold. The simple style of mount is indicative of the early 1900s and also reflects the low cost of mounting.

Physical Description

Oval white painted porcelain brooch featuring a kookaburra sitting on a branch facing right.