Metal matchbox cover featuring engraving of a kangaroo on a boomerang

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Dunklings, Melbourne

c. 1900 - 1920

Overview

Silver lined metal matchbox cover featuring an engraved image of a kangaroo facing to the right standing on an inverted boomerang. This motif is typical of that used around the time of Australian Federation.
The engraving is very detailed with many fine lines used to create texture.
The back of the cover is plain. The name of the jewellers shop which sold the item (Dunklings Melbourne) is impressed into the side, although a couple of the letters are missing, perhaps due to polishing of the item. The words 'Made In England' appear underneath in a circular arrangement.
The metal retains some of its shine, but is likely to have been brighter when originally sold.

Historical information

Dunklings was a prominent jewellery retailer and manufacturer in Melbourne, Australia, that operated from the mid-19th century until the 1990s. The company was founded in 1874 by brothers Julius, Gustav, and Adolph Dunkling, who had immigrated to Australia from Germany.

Although the matchbox cover itself was manufactured in England, the engraving of the kangaroo and boomerang would have been done by the jewellers in Melbourne.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00496

Item type

Themes

Material