Collection
Objects
EXPLORE THE WMA OBJECTS COLLECTION
The Women’s Museum of Australia collection holds over 2500 objects including domestic technology, photographs, manuscripts, clothing, jewellery and books.
Digitising the collection and making it available online is an evolving resource that will, over time, represent many more of the Museum’s collection highlights.
You can also explore our Library, which holds books and audiovisual materials by clicking HERE.
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Milk Jug
White milk jug with gold lining around the rim and handle.Logo- Portsmouth, City Arms. Crown, star and crescent moon on shield.
Maker: N/A
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Milk Jug Cover
White crochet milk jug cover, with eight reddish brown small decorative beads.
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Geologists Pick
Geologists Pick. Wooden handle. Steel pick head.
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Plane- woodworking tool
Old steel wood working tool.
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Bootlasts
Steel boot-lasts. Three different sizes.
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Typewriter
Typewriter, portable with attachable wooden compartment/case. Mercedes brand, German made. Paper covered with a blackish brown color. Typewriter is metal with rubber roller.
Maker: Mercedes Buromaschinen - Werke A-G
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Celluloid Doll
Celluloid doll with blue eyes dressed in off white hand made knitted bonnet, dress, booties and pants.
Maker: Lucky Toys
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Set of 5 metal canisters
Set of 5 green metal canisters with lids which have black knobs. The canisters have the words a, FLOUR b, SUGAR c, RICE d, SAGO e. TEA printed on them.
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Dressing Table
White wooden dressing table on turned wooden legs. Chest of drawers has 2 small drawers at the top and 3 long drawers. On top of the chest of drawers is a mirror in the centre with a small drawer on… Read more…
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Cotton Fabric
A piece of white cotton fabric with broderie anglaise trim.
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Petticoat - child's
Small child’s white cotton sleeveless petticoat with broderie anglaise trim on the skirt and drawstring neck.
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Camisole
White cotton camisole with crocheted short sleeves and upper half. Opening at the front with 3 different white buttons, with a loop of cotton from the bottom button.
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Meat cover
Oval shaped homemade metal meat cover with a metal handle on the top.
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Baby bath
a) white painted metal oval shaped bath with a handle on each end b) white painted metal stand with shelf at the base. Base has two holes for bowl and soap dish. c) white enamel bowl with a dark blue… Read more…
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High chair
Wooden High chair painted green Has a tray covered with brown contact?/Laminate? which can be lifted and placed behind the seat. Has a step for child’s feet to rest on.
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The Australian Pioneer Aviatrix Tapestry
On International Women’s Day, March 8 2008, this wool tapestry was presented to the Museum to honour Australian women involved in pioneering aviation. The Australian Pioneer Aviatrix Tapestry found a… Read more…
Maker: The Tableland Tapestry Weavers, principal weavers Lynda Price and Dale Roger-Jones and hundreds of volunteers
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Grapevine motif gold brooch
An 18ct gold brooch shaped like a grapevine, twigs and grapes with safety chain and pin. The symbol of vines and grapes was a popular motif in Australian goldfields jewellery manufacture from the… Read more…
Maker: G.R. Addis
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Silver daffodil brooch
A finely worked sterling silver brooch shaped like a daffodil with leaves with a safety chain and pin. While the daffodil’s primary symbolism is that of new beginnings, rebirth and the coming of… Read more…
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Gold curb link bracelet with heart shaped clasp
9ct rose gold hollow curb link bracelet with padlock clasp and safety chain.This bracelet looks heavy, but the curb links are hollow, as was common for this style of jewellery in the early 1900s.… Read more…
Maker: J.W. Wendt
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Gold brooch with opal
This 18ct gold brooch features a crown shape motif with an opal at the centre and gold-plated tassels. These elements reflect a fascination with the Orient, which was popular in the Victorian and… Read more…
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Celluloid doll
This celluloid doll is dressed with a hand made cotton cloth nappy held in place with two safety pins, frilled synthetic fabric nightie and has a pink quilted synthetic fabric bed jacket and… Read more…
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Child's scooter / walker
This walker was made using plans published in Farmer’s Weekly, a magazine published by the primary Producers Association of WA (now the WA Farmer’s Federation). There were other plans in the… Read more…
Maker: Sid Groves, the donor's father
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Joan Kirner, the other men in my life, 1990
Joan Kirner, Press Photograph, 1990 Signed on reverse: JKPremier 1990The other men in my life!Age Photo Taken in 1990 when Joan Kirner became Victoria’s first woman Premier.
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Joan Kirner 60th birthday party signed fundraising poster
Poster advertising Joan Kirner’s 60th Birthday party to be held at the Plaza Ballroom in Melbourne on Sunday 21 June 1998. It is signed upper left Joan Kirner in blue ballpoint pen. Joan originally… Read more…
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Scrapbook - Knitting and Crocheting Ladies', Gents', Children's Wear
This scrap book contains patterns and advertisements for knitting and crocheting, compiled by Mien Blom.
Maker: Mien Blom
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Pattern book: "Autumn Originals" Thorobred Scheepjeswol
* This book contains patterns for knitting. The cover of the book is glossy with a woman standing with a big smile wearing a jumper. It contains five free fashion patterns for you to knit. It… Read more…
Maker: THOROBRED SCHEEPJESWOL
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"The Harmony Guide to 100's More Crochet Stitches"
This book contains patterns and advertisements. Traditionally crochet was worked almost exclusively in very fine cotton yarn to create or embellish household items such as curtains, table cloths or… Read more…
Maker: Proost International Book Production
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"It's a Baby" - Pattern book by Dale Burdett
This book contains patterns and advertisements. The author is an artist, designer and a teacher. The book also contains color comparison chart like DMC,ANCHOR and J&P COATS. The patterns… Read more…
Maker: Dale Burnett's Needle and Craft Store
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Compact
Compact: 8 cm wide by 6.3 cm deep (not including clasp) by 1 cm high; contains sponge and under the door marked with a W (or crown) with in an inverted triangle beneath KG is a border of…
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"Family Portraits in Capricorn: Twilleys" Book No. 716
This book contains patterns and hints to make your garments look more professional. Always remember to check your tension. All measurements are calculated to the exact tension stated at the… Read more…
Maker: PANDA YARNS [INTERNATIONAL] PTY. LTD.
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''The Creators; Exclusive Hand Knits from International Designers''
There is seldom to be found in Australia one publication that has a variety of knitting patterns, featuring overseas designs but using locally available pure wool yarns. Our belief that the… Read more…
Maker: The Australian Wool Corporation.
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''The Complete Mens Sweater Book in Patons 8 Ply Yarns'' Book 2109
This book contains patterns for Diamond Sweater, Easy Pip Rib Sweater and Aran Style Sweater to name a few. It has also some helpful hints like knitting up stitches, back stitch seam, slip stitch… Read more…
Maker: Patons
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Pattern book, ''Thorobred Scheepjeswol 1985 Designer Collection'' No. 6231
This is a limited edition pattern book of designer collection. It contains the Designer Sweater by Denise Rothfield, Koala Jumper by Graeme Last, and Jacket in Three Yarns by Yvonne Newell to name a… Read more…
Maker: Thorobred Scheepjeswol Ltd.
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Australian Women's Weekly Curry Cookbook
Australian Women’s Weekly Curry Cookbook. Eight page special, with pages numbered 75 – 86. Measures 21.3 cm wide by 28.3 cm long. No tears, stains, spots. Had been bound with three staples. April… Read more…
Maker: The Australian Women's Weekly
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Good Housekeeping's Homemade Sweets
Good Housekeeping’s Homemade Sweets. Measures 18.5 cm wide by 23.5 cm long. The covers are torn from the rest. Between pages 28 and 29 is a piece of tape which once held the back cover to the… Read more…
Maker: The National Magazine Company, Ltd.
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Australian Women's Weekly 50 Lovely Hot Puddings
Australian Women’s Weekly 50 Lovely Hot Puddings. Measures 28.5 cm wide by 21.7 cm long. No tears, stains, spots. Had been folded in half. Sixteen numbered pages. Had been bound with a staple.… Read more…
Maker: The Australian Women's Weekly
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CWA of NT Buffalo Cook Book
CWA of NT Buffalo Cook Book. Measures 16.3 cm wide by 23 cm long. No tears, stains, spots. Fifty-two numbered pages. Bound with two staples. Appears to have not been used.
Maker: The C.W.A. of the N.T. Inc.
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Australian Women's Weekly 80 Easy Biscuits
Australian Women’s Weekly 80 Easy Biscuits. Measures 28.5 cm wide by 21.5 cm long. No tears. In the upper right corner is a stain that has bled through to page 4. No other stains, spots. Sixteen… Read more…
Maker: The Australian Women's Weekly
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Williams Cider Vinegar Recipes
Williams Cider Vinegar Recipes. Door hanger shaped. Measures 7.5 cm wide by 13 cm long. Contains two recipes: Waldorf Salad and Lamb Paprika.
Maker: Williams
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Australian Women's Weekly 50 Easy Economical Cakes
Australian Women’s Weekly 50 Easy Economical Cakes. Measures 28.5 cm wide by 22 cm long. No tears but some stains and spots. Had been folded in half. Sixteen numbered pages. Had been bound with… Read more…
Maker: The Australian Women's Weekly
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Beef and Lamb
Beef and Lamb. Makes a good square meal for around two dollars. Measures 10.2 cm wide by 11.5 cm length. Binded with two staples. Seventeen unnumbered pages.
Maker: Australian Meat and Live-Stock Corporation
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The Nestlé’s Winter Weather Cook Book
The Nestlé’s Winter Weather Cook Book. Measures 28 cm wide by 37 cm long. The front and back covers have rips. No stains or spots. Sixteen numbered pages. Bound with two staples. May 5, 1965. Read more…
Maker: The Australian Women's Weekly
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American Recipes Tested in SA
American Recipes Tested in SA. Mimeographed pages bound between green cardstock. The cover title was handwritten using a green felt marker. American RecipesTESTED IN S.A.2/ Measures 20 cm width by… Read more…
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Australian Women's Weekly The Sweet Foods of Christmas
Australian Women’s Weekly The Sweet Foods of Christmas. Measures 28.8 cm wide by 21.5 cm long. The front cover has a section missing. Sixteen numbered pages. Had been bound with a staple.… Read more…
Maker: The Australian Women's Weekly
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Maggi Vegetables & Pasta
Maggi Vegetables & Pasta. Measures 13.5 cm wide by 19 cm long. No tears, stains, spots. Twenty-six recipes/pages. Bound with two staples.
Maker: Maggi
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Australian Women's Weekly Preserves and Preserving
Australian Women’s Weekly Preserves and Preserving. Measures 28.5 cm wide by 21 cm long. No tears, stains, spots. Sixteen numbered pages. Had been bound with a staple. February 14, 1968. Read more…
Maker: The Australian Women's Weekly
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250 Superb Pies & Pastries
250 Superb Pies & Pastries. Measures 13 cm wide by 17.5 cm long. No tears, stains, spots. Forty-eight numbered pages. Bound with two staples. The cover has an orange sticker with “25¢”… Read more…
Maker: Culinary Arts Institute
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Australian Women's Weekly All About Pastry Book 1
Australian Women’s Weekly All About Pastry Book 1. Measures 28.5 cm wide by 21.5 cm long. No tears, stains, spots. Sixteen numbered pages. Had been bound with a staple. May 10, 1967.
Maker: The Australian Women's Weekly
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Reader's Digest Barbecue Cookery
Reader’s Digest Barbecue Cookery: A guide to outdoor meals. Measures 19 cm wide by 13 cm long. No tears, stains, spots. Fifty-six numbered pages. Bound with two staples.
Maker: Reader's Digest
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Davis Dainty Dishes
Davis Dainty Dishes. Measures 12 cm wide by 18 cm long. Some cover corners torn off. Sixty-seven numbered pages. Bound with two staples. The right flyleaf has inscribed, in the top, with what… Read more…
Maker: The Davis Gelatine Organisation
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Glass Kerosene Lamp
Glass kerosene lamp. Clear glass oil lamp; base and mantel only. Measures 27 cm high; the base diameter is 14 cm.
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Your Wine Guide
“Your Wine Guide. Presented by McWilliam’s Wines.” Measures 18.3 cm wide by 26 cm long. No tears, stains, spots. Front lower right corner had been bent at one time. Twenty-three numbered pages.… Read more…
Maker: The Australian Women's Weekly
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Suitcase and Stockings
Suitcase Cardboard, metal and fabric suitcase has two keyed clasps locks. The interior is lined with a crinkly fabric. Stockings The stockings have never been used are in the box. Made by Kolotex… Read more…
Maker: Kolotex Hosiery (Australia) Pty. Ltd.
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Supplement to Australian Women's Weekly: Cook Book by Dione Lucas
Supplement to Australian Women’s Weekly: Cook Book by Dione Lucas. Measures 18 cm wide by 26 cm long. No tears, stains, spots. Sixty-four numbered pages. Bound with two staples. No date. Read more…
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Australian Women's Weekly Farmhouse Cook Book
Australian Women’s Weekly Farmhouse Cook Book. Measures 18.8 cm wide by 26 cm long. No tears, stains, spots. Sixteen numbered pages. Bound with glue. June 21, 1972
Maker: The Australian Women's Weekly
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Collection of assorted recipes
Molly Clark collection of assorted recipes: Alison Burt’s Cookery Cards “Chicken Pie with Herb Topping”, Poultry recipe 8 Twelve pages from a book (pp. 11 – 16, 31 – 38) containing Butter Sandwich… Read more…
Maker: various
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The Kookaburra Cookery Book
The Kookaburra Cookery Book. Measures 12.5 cm wide by 18.8 cm long by 3 cm high. No tears, stains, spots. Three hundred thirty numbered pages. Bound. Separating somewhat from binding. No date. Read more…
Maker: The Lady Victoria Buxton Girls’ Club
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Doily
Doily.
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Doily
Doily.
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Doily
Doily.
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Doily
Doily.
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Traycloth
Embroidered traycloth.
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Traycloth
Embroidered traycloth.
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Traycloth
Traycloth, scallops along one edge curled, no longer squarish due to having been folded.
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Doily
Doily. Measures 22 cm diameter.
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Doily
Doily. Measures 24 cm diameter.
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Doily
Doily. Measures 21.5 cm diameter.
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Handkerchief
Handkerchief, Royal Visit 1949. Measures 29.5 cm wide by 30 cm long. No markings.
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Handkerchief
Handkerchief — Admirals Jellicoe, Lapeyrere & Kitchener. Measures 32 cm wide by 30 cm long. Some stains. No label.
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Handkerchief
Yellow handkerchief, white embroidered in corner. No label.
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Mantle Clock
Wooden, mantle clock. No manufacturer name visible. Measures 40.5 cm wide by 21.5 cm high by 14 cm deep.
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Hat Pin
Hat pin; from tip; 6.7 cm pin length, 9.9 cm total length, 2.6 cm width. The pin is intricate. At the top and base are white, round pearls; the top one bigger than the bottom. Between the pearls… Read more…
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Hat Pin
Hat pin. The top is an oval-shaped bead, gold in colour with black dots. Under it is a cluster of pearls, in different colours: black and off-white.
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Hat Pin
Hat pin. The top is oval-shaped, bluish-white in colour under the gold that has flecked off. It is held at the base with a solid gold-coloured prong, scalloped around the top with rows of waves… Read more…
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Card of Hooks and Eyes
Card of hooks and eyes, size 0.
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Card of Hooks and Eyes
Card of hooks and eyes, size 4.
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Needlecard
Needlecard.
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Steamer
Steamer (part colander insert).
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Diamond Petrol Iron
Diamond petrol iron.
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Vegetable/Puree Maker
Vegetable/purée maker food.
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Vega Cream and Milk Separator
Vega cream and milk separator (which comes apart into eight parts).
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Framed movie poster "The Overlanders"
Framed movie poster of the 1946 film “The Overlanders” starring Daphne Campbell (Calder). Some of the film was shot on location near Alice Springs. The woman star of the film donated this poster to… Read more…
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Name Badge
Name badge for Mrs Joan CAIRNS, Anaesthetic Technician.
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Membership Certificate
Membership certificate for the Australian Society of Anaesthetic and Operating Theatre Technicians (ASAOTT) in blue card folder.
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Enamel Badge - Australia Society of Anaesthetists
Blue enamel on gold badge for the Australian Society of Anaesthetic and Operating Theatre Technicians (ASAOTT).
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Enamel Badge - Australia Society of Anaesthectic
Red and white enamel on gold badge for the Australian Society of Anaesthetic and Operating Theatre Technicians (ASAOTT).
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Ice Box
Ice box, handmade oblong shaped, hinged box with lid, divided into two internal compartments. Handle on each narrow end and two catches for fastening (one missing).
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Ledger
Ledger, 520 pages, lined paper, narrow and oblong in shape and bound in blue buckam over thick card covers with brown leatherette along spine and across corners. Each page lists different people’s… Read more…
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Gloves
Pair of women’s gloves, black, crochet cotton, with scalloped wrist edges and diamond pattern on backs.
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Salt Spoon
Salt spoon, of electro-plated nickel silver. Trademark EPNS EP.
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Booklet "Call Sign Directory"
Booklet “Call Sign Directory”, handtyped, 18 pages, RFDS directory from 1971 with blue paper cover.
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Oil Lamp
Oil lamp, metal oil container with turned wooden stand. The glass chimney and shade are missing. Ca early 20th century, American. Trademark: ALADDINMANTEL LAMP CO. N‑U-Type. MODEL B.…
Maker: Mantel Lamp Company.
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Vase
Vase, of metal, patterned.
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Butter Churner
Butter churner: tin lid with cast iron handle and turning mechanism and wooden paddles. NATIONAL TRUST painted in yellow around lid. The glass jar is missing. Handwritten label: “From Mrs P.… Read more…
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Rose Compact, Lipstick, Rouge
Rose compact, lipstick, and rouge. Made of brass [?]. Compact empty inside. Lipstick etched on bottom 1955 KJV (? V) and had contained red lipstick.
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Pattern book, ''Easy - to - crochet Tartan Rugs'', 1999
This book is from The Australian Women’s Weekly Craft Library. It contains some advertisements, general instructions, like the material to use, the measurements and the method they use to make a… Read more…
Maker: Network Distribution Company
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Tobacco
A jar containing three pieces of tobacco.
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Cake Decorating Tips and Piping Bag
Cake decorating tips and piping bag. Bag and six (6) tips. The tips are marked Durcher by IceMaster.
Maker: Durcher by IceMaster
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Silk Negligee
Full length white silk négligée with hand-made lace bodice. No label, no size.