Summary
Wooden bench with reversible backrest used in a mental health hospital (probably Ballarat) in Victoria, Australia, circa 1920. Made by Public Works Department. Patients would sit at the bench facing a table in a dining room. When the meal had ended the back would be moved across so patients could face the centre of the room.
Physical Description
Wooden bench with reversible backrest. Back has single horizontal beam (rounded on top) at mid-back height and flat ends carved in shape rather like a celtic cross. Each has thick metal rod inset up the middle and extending 25cm below bottom. Lower end of rod is screwed to inside of bench leg, allowing backrest to be swung to either side of the bench. There are slits in each end of the seat to allow movement of the rod and seat is plain, thick slab with rounded edges. Two legs are flat pieces with sides carved in stepped concave outline.
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Donation from Office of Psychiatric Services, May 1985
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Manufacturer
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Place & Date Used
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Inscriptions
P.W.D. is carved in the end of the backrest.
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Classification
Medicine & health, Mental health - institutional life, Furniture
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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overall dimensions
184 cm (Length), 45 cm (Width), 87 cm (Height)
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Exhibition Collection Management
484 mm (Length), 1830 mm (Width), 863 mm (Height)
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References
card with bench identical to this exhibit.
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Keywords
Food & Drink Consumption, Psychiatric Hospitals, Making History - Psych Services
