Paperweight
Mineral specimen
Maker & role
Unknown, Manufacturer
Production date
Late 19th Century
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Object detail
Title
Specimen paperweight
Production place
Collection
Measurements
0 - Whole, H: 6.8 x W: 8.4 x D: 2cm (H: 68 x W: 84 x D: 20mm)
Signature & marks
None
Credit line
Gift, NSW Department of Planning and Environment, 1987
Rouse Hill Estate Collection, Museums of History New South Wales
Rouse Hill Estate Collection, Museums of History New South Wales
Rouse Hill Estate Collection, Museums of History New South Wales
Rouse Hill Estate Collection, Museums of History New South Wales
Caption
Specimen paperweight. Thomas Walker's Royal Museum, Derbyshire (attrib.), before 1857.
Description
Rectangular agate paper weight cut with facetted edge and corners. The specimen highly polished and striated in a range of browns and creams.
It is possible that this paperweight was acquired along with a specimen marble example [see R88/133] and a 'petrified' birds nest, from Thomas Walker's Royal Museum in Matlock-Bath, Derbyshire by Hannah Rouse during one of her European tours. The 'Royal Museum', previously known as the 'Centre Museum' after its location between two rival premises, was acquired by Walker from John Vallance sometime before 1857, and specialised in geological curiosities. It was a retail establishment that encouraged visits for the educational benefit of visitors, as much as for sales.
Located in the Drawing Room at Rouse Hill House, this paperweight is part of the collection acquired from Mr. Gerald Terry, grandson of Hannah and the house’s last permanent resident. At the time of the house’s acquisition by the NSW State Government (1978), the collection and remnant property of Rouse Hill estate was jointly owned by Gerald and his brother Roderick, two of the sons of Nina Terry (nee Rouse). The collection at Rouse Hill records changing rural and domestic life in NSW from the early 19th to late 20th centuries as experienced by 6 generations of the one family.
It is possible that this paperweight was acquired along with a specimen marble example [see R88/133] and a 'petrified' birds nest, from Thomas Walker's Royal Museum in Matlock-Bath, Derbyshire by Hannah Rouse during one of her European tours. The 'Royal Museum', previously known as the 'Centre Museum' after its location between two rival premises, was acquired by Walker from John Vallance sometime before 1857, and specialised in geological curiosities. It was a retail establishment that encouraged visits for the educational benefit of visitors, as much as for sales.
Located in the Drawing Room at Rouse Hill House, this paperweight is part of the collection acquired from Mr. Gerald Terry, grandson of Hannah and the house’s last permanent resident. At the time of the house’s acquisition by the NSW State Government (1978), the collection and remnant property of Rouse Hill estate was jointly owned by Gerald and his brother Roderick, two of the sons of Nina Terry (nee Rouse). The collection at Rouse Hill records changing rural and domestic life in NSW from the early 19th to late 20th centuries as experienced by 6 generations of the one family.
Accession number
R88/132
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