Paperweight
Mineral specimen
Maker & role
Manufacturer; Unknown, Maker
Production date
1870
See full details
Object detail
Title
'Patchwork' specimen marble paperweight
Production place
Collection
Measurements
0 - Whole, H: 6.8 x W: 10 x D: 1.7cm (H: 68 x W: 100 x D: 17mm)
Production notes
Pietra Dure
Signature & marks
Paper label applied to underside, some losses to text: "Patronized By His Grace / the Duke of Devonshire / [Free Museum?], MATLOCK-BATH / W..L.ER, Late Va..L..N.. / Elegantly engraved / Tables Vases Urns &c. &c."
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
Paperweight, 1870
Description
A specimen paperweight made of inlaid and polished semi-precious stones and marbles, set in Asford black marble.
Rectangular black marble paperweight with pietra dure decoration. Upper surface decorated with rectangular inlay panel consisting of 14 irregular pieces of semi precious stones including malachite, agate, jasper, and what may be turquoise. This rectangular panel is surrounded by a narrow inlay border of Asford black marble and a second border of a pink & cream stone. The surfaces have been highly polished. The underside has been covered in pink baize, over which is a faded green green trade card printed in black with a decorative neoclassical border. Though fragmentary the text reads "Patronized By His Grace / the Duke of Devonshire / [Royal Mus]eum, MATLOCK-BATH / WALKER, Late VALLANCE / Elegantly engraved / Tables Vases Urns &c. &c."
Previously run by John Vallance, Thomas Walker acquired his Derbyshire business - described as a 'Museum' although it was a retail establishment as visitors were encouraged to view the geological specimens for their edification free of charge - sometime around 1855. It was described in Frances White's 1862 General Commercial Directory and Topography of the Borough of Sheffield: "Of the Museums at the Bath, the principal is Walker's (late Vallance), in which the goods are open to visitors free of charge; amongst the most beautiful must be named the black marble from the quarries of Ashford and Bakewell, which is formed into the most elegant tables, vases, inkstands, &c., beautifully inlaid and engraved. The Fluor Spars, of which the "Blue John" is the most recherche, is also manufactured into an endless variety of ornaments, from the superb vase to the elegant brooch or locket. To the admirers of these articles we would particularly recommend a visit to Mr. Walker's Museum, where the largest and most choice assortment is to be found". Valance had opened the business in 1831 having previously been an agent for John Mawe until his death in 1829, and then for Sarah Mawe who continued that business - confusingly also called the 'Royal museum'. Valance's was first known as the 'Centre Museum' as it was between two other 'museums', including Mawe's. It was renamed 'The Royal Museum' after a visit by the Queen Dowager Adelaide (wife of William IV) in 1840. The business was later acquired by the Smith family, who continued it as 'Smiths Royal Museum' until c1960.
The ‘Duke of Devonshire’ listed is either William George Spencer Cavendish (1790-1858), who succeeded to the dukedom as 6th Duke of Devonshire in 1811, or his heir William Cavendish, (1808-1891) 7th Duke of Devonshire, suceeded 1858. Matlock Bath is in Derbyshire, 30k south of Sheffield, and some 15 kilometers south of Chatsworth, seat of the Cavendish family. Asford black marble is quarried near Ashford-in-the-Water, Derbyshire, and was used extensively at Matlock Bath and Buxton in decorative stone work, including black Asford marble table tops etched with classical scenes and picturesque views. The style of irregular inlay in this piece is described in William Adams' 'The Gem of the Peak, or, Matlock Bath and its vicinity' ( London, 1845. 4th Edn.) as 'scrap' or 'patchwork' [Adams was successor to the Mawes at their own Museum establishment].
The date of the attached trade card would indicate the paperweight - and possibly a round specimen marble disc R86/39, and 'petrified' birds nest, - were acquired by Hannah Rouse during one of her European tours.It serves as a reminder of the role of paper records and communications in a pre-digital age.
This paperweight is part of the collection at Rouse Hill 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.
Rectangular black marble paperweight with pietra dure decoration. Upper surface decorated with rectangular inlay panel consisting of 14 irregular pieces of semi precious stones including malachite, agate, jasper, and what may be turquoise. This rectangular panel is surrounded by a narrow inlay border of Asford black marble and a second border of a pink & cream stone. The surfaces have been highly polished. The underside has been covered in pink baize, over which is a faded green green trade card printed in black with a decorative neoclassical border. Though fragmentary the text reads "Patronized By His Grace / the Duke of Devonshire / [Royal Mus]eum, MATLOCK-BATH / WALKER, Late VALLANCE / Elegantly engraved / Tables Vases Urns &c. &c."
Previously run by John Vallance, Thomas Walker acquired his Derbyshire business - described as a 'Museum' although it was a retail establishment as visitors were encouraged to view the geological specimens for their edification free of charge - sometime around 1855. It was described in Frances White's 1862 General Commercial Directory and Topography of the Borough of Sheffield: "Of the Museums at the Bath, the principal is Walker's (late Vallance), in which the goods are open to visitors free of charge; amongst the most beautiful must be named the black marble from the quarries of Ashford and Bakewell, which is formed into the most elegant tables, vases, inkstands, &c., beautifully inlaid and engraved. The Fluor Spars, of which the "Blue John" is the most recherche, is also manufactured into an endless variety of ornaments, from the superb vase to the elegant brooch or locket. To the admirers of these articles we would particularly recommend a visit to Mr. Walker's Museum, where the largest and most choice assortment is to be found". Valance had opened the business in 1831 having previously been an agent for John Mawe until his death in 1829, and then for Sarah Mawe who continued that business - confusingly also called the 'Royal museum'. Valance's was first known as the 'Centre Museum' as it was between two other 'museums', including Mawe's. It was renamed 'The Royal Museum' after a visit by the Queen Dowager Adelaide (wife of William IV) in 1840. The business was later acquired by the Smith family, who continued it as 'Smiths Royal Museum' until c1960.
The ‘Duke of Devonshire’ listed is either William George Spencer Cavendish (1790-1858), who succeeded to the dukedom as 6th Duke of Devonshire in 1811, or his heir William Cavendish, (1808-1891) 7th Duke of Devonshire, suceeded 1858. Matlock Bath is in Derbyshire, 30k south of Sheffield, and some 15 kilometers south of Chatsworth, seat of the Cavendish family. Asford black marble is quarried near Ashford-in-the-Water, Derbyshire, and was used extensively at Matlock Bath and Buxton in decorative stone work, including black Asford marble table tops etched with classical scenes and picturesque views. The style of irregular inlay in this piece is described in William Adams' 'The Gem of the Peak, or, Matlock Bath and its vicinity' ( London, 1845. 4th Edn.) as 'scrap' or 'patchwork' [Adams was successor to the Mawes at their own Museum establishment].
The date of the attached trade card would indicate the paperweight - and possibly a round specimen marble disc R86/39, and 'petrified' birds nest, - were acquired by Hannah Rouse during one of her European tours.It serves as a reminder of the role of paper records and communications in a pre-digital age.
This paperweight is part of the collection at Rouse Hill 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
R88/133
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