Item: AO.517
Carved oak, banjo barometer and thermometer. A sterling silver presentation plaque attached. Reads “Presented to J. F. Hill Esq as a token of esteem by members of the City Oval Bowling Club Ballarat 16th July 1927”. The plaque is stamped HUTTON & CO, and STG.SIL.
Mr J.F. Hill (1876 – 1953) was a teacher for the Victorian Education Department, working at Ballarat High School in 1924. Later, becoming head master of the Melbourne Boy’s High School, 1934.1
Hawkins (1990) illustrates a two handled emu egg cup, circa 1862 (plate 286) part of the Altmanm Collection kept at the National Gallery of Victoria. Marked ‘H.F. HUTTON STG.SIL BALLARAT’ and was included in Hawkins ‘Index of Silversmiths’ Marks’ of volume 2.2 After H.F. Hutton death it appears the business passed into the hands of family members changing the marks to ‘H.F. Hutton & Co’ or ‘Hutton & Co., and remaining operating for at least several decades. The University of Ballarat historical collection has two gold fobs;3 the Gold Museum Ballarat a gold box and trophy cup,4,5 these four objects are stamped with post H.F. Hutton marking. Recently a gold shovel with nugget brooch by H.F. Hutton was sold by Mossgreen Auctions, Melbourne (lot 382: 3rd June 2014) .6
References:)
1. National Library Australia. Trove: Portland Guardian; 29th July 1943: page 4 – Obituary Mr. J.F. Hill. (Microfiche, viewed: 2nd June 2016).
2. Hawkins, J.B., (1990) Nineteenth Century Australian Silver. Antique Collectors’ Club Ltd. Woodbridge, Suffolk, England. 2Vols. (I): pp 1 – 342; (II): pp 1 – 373.
Dimensions: 75 cm long (nr: 29.5 inches)
Condition: good, working mechanism; thermometer glass backing cracked.
SOLD
Can be bought online. Price includes postage worldwide.
Note: The Australian Dollar is around ¾ that of the USD. Currency conversion link: www.xe.com
