MUSEUM COLLECTIONS

Evening Star, Issue 21879, 16 November 1934, Page 18

MUSEUM COLLECTIONS

INTERESTING DISPLAYS AMD ADDRESSES annual combined conversazione An interesting and enjoyable evening was spent in the Willi Pels wing of the Otago University Museum last night, on the occasion of the annual combined conversazione of the Association of Friends of the Museum and the Otago Institute. There was a large attendance of members of both bodies, as well as of guests. On display there was a selection ol rare manuscripts from the Hoeken Library and also a loan collection of line specimens of European china, porcelain, and earthenware. In tlie course of the evening addresses wore given by Professor Denham (curator of The Museum) and the Chairman of the Association of Friends ot the Museum ’(Mr Willi Fels). Since the last conversazione a tuku tuku panelling in the Maori house has been finished, and during supper a short explanatory speech on it was made' by Mr H. D. Skinner. OTAGO INSTITUTE’S HELP. After extending a welcome to those present, Professor Benham said that, by means of the fund derived from the annual subscriptions of the friends, the Museum had been able to purchase from time to time valuable objects in illustration of classical archeology, and the council of the association regretted that this year no money was being expended in'’this direction, for, owing to the “ heavy burden of the high exchange ” —to me Sir Francis Bell’s words in the Legislative Council—the council deemed it prudent to allow the fund to accumulate in the hope that in a year or two this burden would be removed and the money would then, of course, go further in buying fine objects in Britain. To tho Otago Institute the Museum was more deeply indebted, for that body had existed for a great number of years and from time to time had advanced money for the purchase of some specimens of natural history which the Museum was unable to buy out of the annual grant of £lO, which for many years was all that the University Council could spare for such purposes. The Museum authorities were therefore thankful for a loan from the institute so as to seize the opportunity of getting some particular specimen when it was offered to them. But still more valuable to the Museum had been the library which the Otago Institute had gradually built up; for each year it had to contribute to the maintenance of a library in order to be recognised as affiliated to the New Zealand Institute. Without a library ot suitable books—technical books—they would; not be able to make their exhibits as interesting and instructive as they tried to do. VALUABLE MANUSCRIPTS. The speaker went on to give examples of the assistance the staff of the Museum had derived from its library, and paid a tribute to the work done by Mr M'Lachlan, a voluntary official, who had rendered valuable service in classifying, naming, and dating the Egyptian objects in the Museum. Referring to the special exhibits which were on view that evening, Professor Benham explained that the manuscripts from the

Hockou Library comprised some pencil drawings of Maori figures by Gilfillan, a noted artist of the time. _ there was also a fine coloured engraving of Nelson in the early days done by James Saxton, and contained in an album illustrating Edward J. Wakefield’s adventures in New Zealand. Among the letters were several from Walter Bnller, written whilst he was Native Commissioner at Christchurch, and also letters from Judge Manning, author of ‘ Old New Zealand,’ to J. Webster, a, settler and trader at Hokianga, who had, in' 1845, joined the expedition of Waka Wenc, a Maori chief friendly to the whites. These letters related, to the customs of the Maori. Other letters were from F. E. Fitzgerald, the first Superintendent of Canterbury, and later Native Minister to Henry Selfo, who was an active promoter of the Canterbury Association in England. From these letters it would be seen that the manuscripts, of which there were so many in the Hocken Library, were of great value in regard to the history of New Zealand. POTTERY AND CHINA.

Mr Fels opened his remarks by explaining how two rare and valuable wood carvings had come into the possession of the Museum, and touching on the exhibit of pottery and china, said that specimens of most European potteries were represented, the most numerous being British. There were on view specimens from Meissen (or Dresden, as it was called usually)—the oldest cliiiia factory in Europe, from Berlin, Fuerstenborg, Nyraphenbcrg, and Vienna, from the Doccia works of Ginon, in Italy, from Sevres, Kopenhagcn, Worcester," Chelsea, Davenport, Crown Derby, Spode, Minton, Lowestoft, and specimens of earthenware, delft, and majolica too numerous to mention. A fine largo Dresden vase, the Kopenhageu china, and the modern exquisite figure by C. \yse, of Chelsea, were also worthy of attention. _ . The oldest pieces of china in the loan collection dated from about 1780 to 1800, most of them being cups and saucers and ornaments and plates by English and German -makers. The first hard white porcelain in Europe was made by John Frederick Bottcher, in Meissen, in 1715. Other factories were started, in 1745 at Vincennes, in 1756 at Sevres, in 1745 at Chelsea and Derby, in 1751 at Worcester, in 1756 at Lowestoft, and in 1768 at Bristol; Thomas Minton founded his works at Stoke on Trent- in 1798, and Josiah Spode commenced about 1800. ADVENT OF WEDGWOOD. The greatest event in the history of tho Staffordshire potteries was the advept of Josiah Wedgwood in 1757 in Burslem and in 1769 iu Eturia. His productions iu very fine black basalt, followed later by such on blue ground with jasper in white and other shades, drew the admiration of all potters, and were soon imitated, not alone in England, but by Meissen and Sevres. W’edgwood produced with the ordinary Staffordshire ware very fine services for royalty and other great patrons, and medallions of the great men of all ages, some of which were shown. Ho employed the famous sculptor, John Flaxman, and under his care tho best modellers from England, I ranee, aiid Italy. Ho had copied the great works of antiquity, or had new designs prepared in classic style. Among the framed plaqucttcs wore Priam kneeling before Achilles, asking for Hector's body, copied from the marble sarcophagus of Alexander tho Great in the Capitoline Museum nt Rome; the Birth of Achilles, designed by Pacetti, and the Floral Sacrifice, bj Flaxman. There were several vases, notewortliv being a fine small one in black basalt from the period Weugwooo and Bentley about 1777, and two laigo vases in black basalt and white jaspei figures, representing Heracles 1 etching the golden apples of the Hespcndcs. A resident of Dunedin was thp ownci of these two vases, and it was interesting to note that ho was the great grandson of the manager of London warehouse of the original Josiafi Wedgwood. ~ , , At the conclusion of Air 1-elss remarks supper was served, and the guests spent an instructive and pleasant hour in viewing tho special exhibits.