Art. Culture. Issue 22 Antiquities. March 2019 Natural history. Mystery and generosity A word from the Director, David Ellis Our varied collections disclose will be able to be enjoyed in the duck figurine from Jericho, contrasts innumerable stories – of origins, lives, opening displays of the Chau Chak with bold scientific designs that reveal motivations and associations. Adding Wing Museum. We will be detailing microscopic worlds and the complex to this is the generosity of donors and this bequest in more detail in a future and multiple uses of Vanuatuan their gifts. On page 30 of this issue of Muse, and of course, at opening. string figures. Muse, we list our supporters whose donations of gifts, resources or time Recently placed under the strategic I hope you enjoy this issue’s mix make such an important contribution guidance of University Museums, of mystery and generosity. to these evolving revelations. public sculpture on campus is increasingly valued and planned David Ellis This month’s stories begin with the as an important element of the Director, Museums and current state of the building program campus experience. In this issue, we Cultural Engagement of the Chau Chak Wing Museum, itself feature the newest public artworks the outcome of incredible generosity. on campus: a suite of works by We are already benefitting from the Dale Harding – a descendant of burgeoning profile of the museum the Bidjara, Garingal and Ghungalu through the continued generosity peoples – that invigorate Eastern of object donations, thanks to the Avenue and tie the new Life, Earth expectation of increased visitation, and Environmental Sciences (LEES) relevance, and exposure for once building to its location. private, and now public, collections. Also in this issue, we share surprise Among the many names in the list discoveries and solutions to mysteries of donors is Mr Neville H Grace. An uncovered as we prepare and astute and passionate collector of research our collections for the Australian impressionist paintings, opening of the new museum in mid‑ his generous bequest of 63 paintings 2020. The discovery of a fragmentary Sydney University Museums Education and Public Programs Muse edited by Luke Parker. Comprising the Macleay Museum, To book a school excursion, an adult education Nicholson Museum and University Art Gallery tour or a University heritage tour This edition contains names and images of people +61 2 9351 8746 who have died. We acknowledge that, for some The Macleay Museum and the University Art [email protected] people and communities, these may cause distress Gallery are now closed as we prepare for the and sadness. Where possible, cultural permission opening of the Chau Chak Wing Museum. Macleay Museum to publish has been sought. Enquiries: The Nicholson Museum remains open: +61 2 9036 5253 Produced by Marketing and Communications, Monday to Friday, 10am to 4.30pm and [email protected] the University of Sydney, January 2019. 19/7931 the first Saturday of every month, 12 to 4pm ISSN 1449‑0420 ABN 15 211 513 464 Closed on public holidays. Nicholson Museum CRICOS 00026A In the southern entrance to the Quadrangle General admission is free. +61 2 9351 2812 Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) +61 2 9351 7305 (fax) is a globally recognised certification Become a fan on Facebook [email protected] overseeing all fibre sourcing standards. and follow us on Twitter. This provides guarantees for the sydney.edu.au/museums University Art Gallery consumer that products are made Enquiries of woodchips from well‑managed forests and other controlled sources Sydney University Museums Administration +61 2 9351 6883 with strict environmental, economical +61 2 9351 2274 [email protected] and social standards. +61 2 9351 2881 (fax) [email protected] In this issue 22 The duck's tale Broken, buried, boxed, then rediscovered, a 4000‑year‑old ceramic duck vessel from Jericho is now back in one piece. 24 A tale of two microscopes Mr Grubb's Sector Microscope and Steindorff & Co’s Microbe Hunter each tell a story of risk and experimentation. 2 News 13 Pictures from the magic box A child's lantern set reflects the 3 Our new museum is taking shape magic of a Victorian childhood. Progress is being made below ground and behind the scenes. 15 Bridging the divide A three‑part sculpture by artist 4 Office works Dale Harding connects the 150 artworks, artefacts and University's campus to the culture specimens are bringing colour to of the land's traditional owners. 26 Lan n’dis ni aou the new Administration Building. [Writing with string] 18 From digger to collector The ancient and powerful 6 What once was lost ... A treasure trove of Egyptian tradition of string figures lives A chance encounter at a public artefacts were acquired during on in Vanuatu. reception led to the discovery of the First World War by an the Lost Nicholson Sculptures. enterprising ANZAC. 30 Donor honour roll for 2018 We say thank you to the donors 8 Nip and tuck 21 Why split a pair of earrings? who are making an enormous In the world of conservation, skin Divided according to excavation difference to our achievements. preservation is a fine art. Luckily, customs of the time, two gold we have Sasha Stollman. earrings are finally reconnected. 31 Making history See what our guests and staff 11 Preserving time have been up to. A luminal kinetic sculpture in our art collection will be a unique 32 Find your muse challenge to maintain. Upcoming events and programs. Cover (detail) and above: Ethel Carrick Fox, Morning in Kaiuoran c.1920–21, Above: Steindorff & Co's Microbe oil on canvas, donated by the Estate of Neville H Grace 2018, University Hunter, Macleay Museum, SC1994.15 Art Collection, UA2018.48 1 News Left: Emanuel A great and graceful gift Phillips Fox, On In mid‑2018, we were invited by a French Beach c.1909, donated Neville Grace to view his remarkable by the estate of Neville H collection of paintings. Several days Grace, University later, we were shocked to hear he Art Collection, UA2018.60 had died. It later transpired that Below: Dr Jude Mr Grace had left his extraordinary Philp, artist art collection of 63 paintings to Florence Gucheng and Anita Herle, the University. Among his favourite at Erub Arts Studio, painters were the Australian October 2018 expatriate couple, Ethel Carrick and Below left: E Phillips Fox, who are represented Dr Wendy Reade by 27 paintings spanning subjects from North Africa, France, Venice, by Arthur Streeton of the Grand Canal core of one of the opening exhibitions and Sydney. Mr Grace also enjoyed in Venice, and a 1923 French beach in the new Chau Chak Wing Museum. coastal landscapes; his treasures scene by Roy De Maistre. In a later include an unusual maritime scene by Muse, we will take a more detailed Dr Ann Stephen, Senior Curator, the Tasmanian WB Gould, a late work look at his gift, which will form the University Art Collection A trip to the Torres Strait meetings at Mer and Mabuiag in I was recently fortunate to return advance of a Sydney University to the Torres Strait, a place familiar Press publication of the 1888 and to some readers as the site of 1898 field journals of the zoologist‑ William John Macleay’s 1875 Chevert ethnographer AC Haddon. expedition research. Our final stop was at Erub (Darnley) At the administrative centre of the Island, where we were guests of Erub Strait, Thursday Island, I visited the Arts (www.erubarts.com.au), a small dynamic Gab Titui Cultural Centre centre with international attention (www.gabtitui.gov.au). It featured an after its successful installations in exhibition, Butal ina ngapa buy, about Monaco, Geneva, Sydney and most opportunity to talk with Elders about the Islanders' pearl‑lugger history and recently in Brisbane. This lush and the new museum and their heritage the environmental considerations of bountiful volcanic island, encircled currently in our care. climate change. With my co‑editor, with stone fish‑traps, hosted Macleay Cambridge University’s Anita Herle, and his expedition party for two Dr Jude Philp, Senior Curator, we travelled on to consultative weeks in 1875, and it was a welcome Macleay Museum Farewell Dr Wendy Reade Dr Reade is an archaeologist and We have been fortunate in benefitting conservator with a BA (Hons) and from the expertise of Dr Wendy PhD in archaeological science, and Reade, most notably in the recent a member of teams in the Middle conservation of two fresco‑painted East, Egypt, Greece, the Balkans and pavement panels from Amarna Myanmar. She is President of the Near in ancient Egypt (c.1350 BC). For Eastern Archaeology Foundation her efforts, she won the inaugural and Honorary Associate in the Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Department of Archaeology. She is Society Mid‑Career Scholarship in leaving us to be Conservation Project 2017, from the Australian Institute Manager at International Conservation for the Conservation of Cultural Services. We wish her all the best. Material. Her association with the University spans 40 years; 20 of Dr Paul Donnelly, Associate Director, those professionally. Content, Chau Chak Wing Museum 2 so that it was not affected by recent Our new museum severe weather events, and it remains on schedule for opening in mid‑2020. An important milestone was reached is taking shape in December 2018 with the pouring of the base slab. In early 2019, some of _ the floor levels were completed. While the preparation of the objects, Paul Donnelly gives an update on how the exhibitions and programs has been Chau Chak Wing Museum is progressing. in development for a number of years, we have entered an exciting phase with the appointment of four contracted exhibition‑design firms.