Description:

AN IMPORTANT AUSTRALIAN-THEMED STERLING SILVER CENTREPIECE PRESENTED TO GEORGE COPPIN
George Angell & Co., London, 1856, retailed by Kilpatrick & Co., London and Melbourne

Modelled as a palm tree with three emus in various poses around its base supporting a central basket and three further small baskets on foliate arms, each basket holding a removable moulded and frosted glass dish, the whole raised on a domed base on three foliate and floral feet, a reserve to one side of the base engraved with an inscription 'Presented to George Coppin, Esq., Manager of the Theatre Royal, Melbourne by the Subscribers in testimony of the high sense entertained by them of his ability as an Actor, his enterprise as a Manager, and his worth and integrity as a Man, 22 June 1857', another reserve engraved at its base with the retailer's name, maker's and assay marks to various parts
51cm high overall (with central dish in place), 2,470g (without dishes)

PROVENANCE:
George Coppin, to whom presented to on 22 June, 1857
J.C. Williamson (1845-1913), presumably acquired directly from Coppin
Thence by descent, whereupon acquired by the vendor


OTHER NOTES:
Sometimes described as the 'father of the Australian theatre', George Coppin (1819-1906) was one the more interesting and indefatigably entrepreneurial characters in public life in Melbourne in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Born in England, he followed his father's craft as a travelling actor from a young age. Seeking new opportunities, he migrated to Australia in 1843 where he pursued an itinerant career as an actor, founder and manager of companies of players and theatres, and other business interests in Sydney, Adelaide, Tasmania, and Melbourne, going through regular cycles of financial failure and revival. In 1854 Coppin settled lastingly in Melbourne, where he continued to act and manage theatres, bringing to Australia leading international actors (and also the camels later used by Burke and Will on their ill-fated expedition), while also embarking on a political career in which he was equally energetic.

This and the following lot were acquired by the vendor from a descendant of the American-born actor and impresario James Cassius Williamson (1845–1913), founder of the long-running Australian theatre owner and theatrical management firm, J.C. Williamson's. Williamson took over management of Melbourne's Theatre Royal from Coppin in 1882 and it seems likely that these lots were acquired by Williamson directly from Coppin amidst their business dealings and Coppin's regular financial difficulties.

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August 5, 2024 6:00 PM AEST
Hawthorn, Australia

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
A$0 A$99 A$50
A$100 A$499 A$50
A$500 A$999 A$50
A$1,000 A$1,999 A$100
A$2,000 A$4,999 A$200
A$5,000 A$9,999 A$500
A$10,000 A$19,999 A$1,000
A$20,000 A$49,999 A$2,000
A$50,000 A$99,999 A$5,000
A$100,000 + A$10,000