ACQUIRED BY MUSEUM VICTORIA, MELBOURNE
the square base with inscriptions Presented to Dame Nellie Melba O.B.E by the Citizens of Geelong' 'Dame Nellie Melba's Grand Presentation Concert. In aid of Kitchener Memorial Hospital,' 'His Majesty's Theatre, August 15th 1922, Sale of Tickets pounds 7012.' The sculpture applied with a Geelong Coat of Arms bearing the inscription City of Geelong, By the Right Use of God's Gifts. Elaborately decorated with a boomerang and Australian native flora and fauna motifs including a gumtree, kookaburra, kangaroo and wallaby. The larger bird supporting a diamond set star pendant from its beak, the reverse applied with the intial M'for Melba, stamped 15ct gold, 556 grams, 128mm, signed Hammerton Geelong, with wooden box by Hammerton & Sons, 173 Lt Ryrie St., Geelong.
Provenance
Dame Nellie Melba GBE, Victoria
Property from the Collection of Dame Nellie Melba GBE, Sotheby's Australia, Melbourne, 31 March 2015, lot 21, illustrated
Acquired by Museum Victoria, Melbourne
Show Catalogue Notes
Catalogue Notes
GIFT FOR MELBATO BE PRESENTED AT CONCERT ON TUESDAYWhen Melba leaves Geelong after her concert on behalf of the Kitchener Memorial Hospital on Tuesday night, she will take with her one of the finest gifts which has ever been made to a visitor, not even excepting the Prince of Wales. The presentation, which will be handed over by the Mayor at the concert, takes the form of a paper weight, and is emblematical of Australia. On a sold gold square base, three inches by three inches, stands a massive solid gold Australian gum tree which was photographed from a scene on the Barwon River. On one of the branches sits a kookaburra, and on another bough is a bird in solid gold representing the Queen of Song carrying in its beak a diamond star set with gems of the first water. On the re verse side is a raised letter M" to indicate it is for Melba. Resting well back, and peeping through the branch in the tree is a shield in gold bearing the city coat of arms, around which is engraved, "City of Geelong. By the right use of God's gifts." On the bed of the base is a kangaroo ready to spring, and a scrub wallaby, so much beloved by Melba, also a boomerang. So that those who are fortunate enough to inspect the presentation, which is of most handsome and unique design, may see at a glance where it came from, is engraved on the side of the base, "Dame Nellie Melba. Grand presentation concert in aid of Kitchener Memorial Hospital," and on the front, "Presented to Dame Nellie Melba, O.B.E., by the citizens of Geelong," whilst on the reverse side appears "His Majesty's Theatre August 15 1922." Space is reserved for the number of tickets sold and the amount of money realised, to be engraved as soon as the details are procurable. The case to contain the weight is to be of polished blackwood lined with blue silk velvet. The whole of the weight is of Australian manufacture, and carried out by Mr. John Hammerton, of Hammerton and Sons, on whom it reflects the highest credit. The gift is to be placed on view on Monday, when the citizens will have an opportunity to inspect it.The Geelong Advertiser, Geelong, 12 August 1922, p. 6"
