An Important piece of Tudor History has just been identified in Australia. A Royal piece of needlework with visual clues to authorship leads to a remarkable conclusion involving the founding of Spain, Christopher Columbus, and Henry VIII of England, with his wife Catherine of Aragon.
Regarded by the leading expert Neil Jeffares as one of the two ‘best pastel portraitists’ of the 18th century, Jean-Baptiste Perronneau (1716-1783) is rarely seen outside collections. We were very excited to find a previously unrecorded portrait in Melbourne recently. Close-up of Jeanne-Marie Mallès, aged 18. It had an inscription on the back which gave…
In today’s world-wide situation, ‘Armchair Travel’ is a necessity. The difficulty in heading off on a grand tour is huge, and the likelihood of being marooned somewhere due to closed borders is high. Stick to google street view exploration for the moment! A recent discovery at Moorabool reveals the idea has been around a long…
The ‘Water Lily’ is the boldest & most beautiful pattern Wedgwood produced in the early 19th century. Why is it called ‘Darwin’s’? And who designed it? The answer is fascinating!
A Row about Rowing! This group of silverplate trophies are an interesting insight into the origin of Australian’s obsession with Sporting Events, which were used as a means of bringing the newly established colonial communities together and giving them a sense of ‘Pride of Place’ that is still very active today. Moorabool recently discovered this…
A fascinating recent discovery was this stunning little casket, or tea caddy. It has a terrific tale to tell, and even has a link to a great name in English ceramics, John Dwight of Fulham. Prince Rupert of the Rhine, by John Dwight of Fulham, c. 1678 Made from a golden toned oak, it has…
We are always fascinated by the origins of things…. when and where did it all begin? In the porcelain world, it was of course China, around 1,000 years ago. This was so foreign and magical to the Europeans that pieces which made the perilous journey across the globe were only affordable by the most wealthy,…
Moorabool is often a place of meeting, both for people who enjoy Antiques – and for the Antiques themselves! We have occasionally been guilty of ‘match-making’ in the Antique world, discovering pieces that were quite literally made to be together…. but somehow became separated. It’s a thrill to re-unite pieces. Ready for the harvest…..? In…
A fascinating fresh item at Moorabool is this tinglaze plaque – inscribed & dated ‘Della Vittoria / 1619’. It depicts a Madonna and Child, with her arm supporting a spear/staff from which flutters a banner with a cross. A depiction of a crowned Madonna & Child, set in a wall in the village of Sommana,…
Old Sheffield Plate teapot with gadrooned half body and gadroon & leaf border, wooden handle, circa 1835. Re-purposed in 1929 as a cattle Trophy Prize for the Royal Melbourne Show, inscribed as follows; THE FRANK REYNOLDS MEMORIAL TROPHY / presented by AUSTRALIAN HEREFORD SOCIETY / best pair of yearling Bulls, MELBOURNE…
