An Australian Silver and Emu Egg Presentation Piece. William Edwards (b. 1819). Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Circa 1860...

Description

An Australian Silver and Emu Egg Presentation Piece

William Edwards (b. 1819)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Circa 1860-1880
Silver, silver gilt, emu eggshell, wood
Marks: (emu), WE, (kangaroo), STERLING SILVER, WALSH & SONS MELBOURNE
12 inches high x 8.75 inches wide x 6 inches deep

The lobe-shaped based with a figural scene of three aboriginal figures representing two men fighting and a woman with infant strapped to her back interceeding, framed by two palm trees supporting the dark black/green emu egg with guilloche banding and grape vine leaf and cluster handles surmounted by birds; the egg crowned by a shaped cap with two emus and relief vegetation; all on an oval wooden base with silver banded decoration and scroll feet; silver gilt interior to egg.

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