Onion Planter - Handmade, circa 1890

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Summary:: Handmade onion planter made by patients at a mental health hospital in Victoria, Australia, circa 1890. It would have been used in the garden of a Victorian mental health hospital.
Description:: Garden onion planter has ladder-shaped wooden handle set at 45 degree angle and wider at top. Wooden chassis made up of intricate network of blocks, shafts and fencing wire tapering slightly to front. There are 3 iron-rimmed four-spoke wooden wheels - 1 in front and 2 on the sides. In the centre is a round drum around another wooden wheel, turned by bicycle chain round cog on axle and inside right-hand side-wheel. Between drum and handle is onion holder - narrow based, open box with floor, galvanised iron sides, hinged plywood back and drum as front wall. Outside of drum has diagonal rows of wire spikes every 16cm.
Acquisition Information:: Donation from Office of Psychiatric Services

Discipline:	History
Dimensions:	76.00 cm (Height), 44.50 cm (Width), 183.00 cm (Length)

Tagged with:	agriculture, occupational therapy, psychiatric hospitals
Themes this item is part of:	Psychiatric Services Collection, Medicine in Society Collection, Public Life & Institutions Collection, Sustainable Futures Collection
Primary Classification:	MEDICINE & HEALTH
Secondary Classification:	Mental Health - Institutional Life
Tertiary Classification:	gardening
Inscriptions:	595 written in pencil on plywood in onion holder. "P" stamped on plywood in onion holder. (part of brand name from container wood was taken from).
Place & Date Used:	Victoria, Australia, circa 1890
References:	card with exhibit. Oral history, Dr E.C.Dax, 4 May 1992