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Teapot - Westgarth Silver Tea & Coffee Service, 1847
Reg. No: SH 980506
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- Summary:
- Teapot presented as part of a silver tea and coffee service in 1847 to William Westgarth, a Scottish merchant and financier who was returning to Britain after having played a prominent part in the civic life and affairs of the Port Phillip area from 1840-1847.
The kettle is inscribed 'Presented to William Westgarth Esquire by one hundred and twenty of his fellow colonists in testimony of their high esteem for his character and appreciation of the benefits conferred on the Province of Port Phillip by his statistical writings and other public services, 1847'.
William Westgarth had become a leading merchant and businessman in his seven years in the colony, active in the Benevolent Society and Mechanic's Institute, and written a book publicizing the colony's potential.
Westgarth returned in 1849, helped found the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce in 1851 and was a member of the first Victorian Parliament.
The silver service was made in Edinburgh by J. Mckay, circa 1846, and had probably been imported to Melbourne as a presentation piece. - Description:
- Ornate silver teapot, large, with impressed decoration and engraved inscription. The teapot was produced as a presentation piece, as there is space on both sides for an engraved insciption to be added within the decoration. A large handle has two small rings of bone to act as insulation and to prevent the handle becoming too hot. The decoration includes flowers, leaves, baskets of fruit, ribbons and scrolls. The lid, which is attached to the body of the tea pot by a hinge, has a 'knob' in an amorphous shape. The teapot is deep, on a silver base; holes are beaten into the silver on the inside to drain the tea through the spout. A detailed inscription is at the front of the pot.
| Discipline: | History |
| Dimensions: | 18 cm (Height), 17 cm (Width), 30 cm (Length) |
More information
| Tagged with: | civic mementoes, domestic equipment, food drink consumption, keepsakes, souvenirs |
| Themes this item is part of: | The Westgarth Silver Tea & Coffee Service, 1847, Domestic & Community Life Collection, Public Life & Institutions Collection |
| Primary Classification: | COMMERCE & RETAILING |
| Secondary Classification: | Chambers of Commerce |
| Tertiary Classification: | presentations |
| Inscriptions: | Engraved: 'Presented to William Westgarth Esquire by one hundred and twenty of his fellow colonists in testimony of their high esteem for his character and appreciation of the benefits conferred on the Province of Port Phillip by his statistical writings and other public services, 1847.' |
| Manufacturer: | J. McKay, Edinburgh, Scotland, Great Britain, 1846 or later |
| Presented To: | William Westgarth, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1847 |
| References: | Willis, E. William Westgarth's silver, in Museum June 1999 no. 13 p.4 |
Themes
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