WOOD BOX: BRASS EMBOSSED, LIPFERT FAMILY
c. 1930Wood box came from the home of Miss E Lipfert, 270 York Street, Subiaco. a) is a rectangular box with a hinged lid. Sides and lid are wood (pine), clad with brass. The base is sheet metal. The brass on lid is beaten with a simple rectangular design in centre, and 2 raised strips run front to back on either side. On front side of box is an embossed river scene of fishing boats, with buildings in background. On either side of box there is a raised heraldic lion, surrounded by a rectangular raised braid-like trim. There is a metal handle above lion on each side. The brass cladding is attached to wood with nails, and hinges are held by screws. The inside wood is painted black, as is back of box. There is a castor at each corner of box, making it easily moved.
b) removable inner box - black, sheet metal container with handle at top either side.
Miss Gertrude Lipfert lived in the family home at 270 York Street, Subiaco until her death in 1989. Daughter of Otto Lipfert, taxidermist at WA Museum. Otto Lipfert was born in Germany in 1864. He trained and worked there as a furrier, but he developed a keen interest in nature and the animal species that were exciting Europeans in Australia. On hearing there was no taxidermist in Western Australia he migrated in 1892, making the voyage in a British ship so that he could learn English on the way.
In 1894 he became the first taxidermist to work for the Western Australian Museum. He made his first collecting trip—to the Abrolhos Islands—that spring.
Lipfert was naturalised in 1900. In 1902 he married German-born Anna Struck at the German club in Perth. The couple built a house at 270 York St (formerly Gibney Street), Subiaco, where members of the Lipfert family lived until 1989. Two daughters: Gertrude and Elsa.
Details
Details
Historical. Used and owned by local family
