Summary

Australia New South Wales Sydney
Medal - Women's Industries Bronze Prize 1888 (AD)
Mint: Amor

Other Details: A bronze prize medal (40 mm diameter) of the Exhibition of Women's Industries held in Sydney in 1888. It features a profile portrait of a young woman and the New South Wales badge, the cross of St George in red (indicated by vertical stripes) on a white disc, at the extremity of each arm of the cross is an eight pointed star, and in the centre of the cross is a lion passant guardant set within a wreath of Australian native flowers. This medal was part of the Sydney Mint collection, purchased by Dr William Howat at the closure of the mint in 1926 and donated to the National Gallery of Victoria. The Exhibition was organised by philanthropist and suffrage campaigner Lady Mary Elizabeth (Bolton) Windeyer (1836 - 1912) and presided over by Lady Cecilia Carrington, wife of the NSW Governor. Proceeds from a sale of the work exhibited financed the Temporary Aid Society, which lent money to women in financial difficulty. The Exhibition comprised seven competitive departments: needlework and lace, knitting, domestic industries (cooking and confectionary), mechanical work (typewriting, box and toy making), educational (especially sick nursing and ambulance work), horticulture and floriculture and fine arts (paintings, drawings, photography and pottery). The Exhibition's motto was 'Patience, Work and God's Grace'. It included a series of auctions, cooking demonstrations, lectures on food and temperance, concerts of singing and other music, dramatic performances, comedies and award ceremonies. The Exhibition opened on Tuesday 2 October, with a ceremony performed by Lady Carrington. A 100-voice choir sand, accompanied by the Permanent Artillary Band. The Exhibition received considerable praise. It was free to children, although too expensive for working class women who also faced a rail fare to the venue. One newspaper correspondent commented that women touted their wares at the exhibition as if it was a common flea market. Nevertheless, it drew close to 3,000 people each day, and its nett profit of 6,000 pounds financed the Temporary Aid Society, which lent money to women in financial difficulty. Competitive prize medals were struck by W.J. Amor in gold, silver and bronze. About 15 gold, and 250 each of silver and bronze were struck.

Physical Description

A bronze prize medal (40 mm diameter) of the Exhibition of Women's Industries held in Sydney in 1888. It features a profile portrait of a young woman and the New South Wales badge, the cross of St George in red (indicated by vertical stripes) on a white disc, at the extremity of each arm of the cross is an eight pointed star, and in the centre of the cross is a lion passant guardant set within a wreath of Australian native flowers.

Obverse Description

At centre a profile head of a young woman facing left; around, EXHIBITION OF WOMEN'S INDUSTRIES * SYDNEY . 1888 * ; the artist's and mint name AMOR under neck truncation.

Reverse Description

At centre within a wreath of Australian native flowers, the New South Wales badge, the cross of St George in red (indicated by vertical stripes) on a white disc, at the extremity of each arm of the cross is an eight pointed star, and in the centre of the cross is a lion passant guardant; around PATIENCE, WORK AND GOD'S GRACE; below in tiny letters, AMOR. SYDNEY

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

In 1888 Lady Barrington presided over the Exhibition of Women's Industries in Sydney, held during October at Prince Albert Park, Redfern, housed in the 1870 Intercolonial Exhibition Building (demolished 1954). The Exhibition was the closing event in centenary celebrations. Lady Barrington formed a committee that elected her president; she also formed other organizational committees. She was depicted on the prize-winners' medal. Lady Mary Elizabeth (Bolton) Windeyer (1836 - 1912) was a principle organiser. She was a philanthropist and charity worker, and Foundation President of the Womanhood Suffrage League of New South Wales.

The Exhibition was structured with Patrons, including the Governor, Chief Justice and Sir Henry Parkes. The seven competitive departments within the Exhibition were each open to school pupils, girls and women of all backgrounds. The departments comprised needlework and lace, knitting, domestic industries (cooking and confectionary), mechanical work (typewriting, box and toy making), educational (especially sick nursing and ambulance work), horticulture and floriculture and fine arts (paintings, drawings, photography and pottery). Each department and an assigned delegate. Lady Carrington was delegate for horticulture and floriculture.

The Exhibition's motto was 'Patience, Work and God's Grace'. It included a series of auctions, cooking demonstrations, lectures on food and temperance, concerts of singing and other music, dramatic performances, comedies and award ceremonies.

The Exhibition opened on Tuesday 2 October, with a ceremony performed by Lady Carrington. A 100-voice choir sand, accompanied by the Permanent Artillary Band.

The Exhibition received considerable praise. It was free to children, although too expensive for working class women who also faced a rail fare to the venue. One newspaper correspondent commented that women touted their wares at the exhibition as if it was a common flea market. Nevertheless, it drew close to 3,000 people each day, and its nett profit of 6,000 pounds financed the Temporary Aid Society, which lent money to women in financial difficulty. Competitive prize medals were struck by W.J. Amor in gold, silver and bronze. About 15 gold, and 250 each of silver and bronze were struck. -Smith, R. A. 1997. Sydney Women's Exhibition Medal. Australian Coin Review; Australian Dictionary of Biography. -D. Tout-Smith 17/11/2003.

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