Art. Culture. Issue 23 Antiquities. June 2019 Natural history. Dodo meets Hollywood A word from the Director, David Ellis As we move closer towards the things that excite a curator more opening of our new museum, each than solving mysteries. Recently issue of Muse will feature an update discovered correspondence in the on the building progress. Currently, Nicholson Museum has revealed the the complex pour of the cantilever much‑loved peacock mosaic is not structure is being undertaken. The Sicilian, as long thought, but is in fact issue we learn about a collaborative builders, FDC, and our own Campus from the Via Appia in Rome. Unlocking publication and travelling exhibition Infrastructure Services (CIS), have more secrets, a recent discovery that traces the émigré artists who undertaken many projects, but in the storeroom is a Jewish child’s came to Australia. building a museum is a first for both. ossuary dating from the Roman era. Once again, our indebtedness to our A public building housing remarkable In this issue, we compare a scanning generous supporters is demonstrated, and precious objects involves a electron microscope’s imagery with this time through the acquisition myriad of specific requirements. artist Margaret Preston’s exploratory of a black‑figure vessel, acquired Maintaining a consistent climate, for flower dissections, with both modes and named in honour of the much‑ example, is imperative if we are to of looking helping us to understand admired long‑term Honorary Curator protect our treasures and borrow plant structures. Such close looking of the Nicholson Museum, Emeritus objects from other institutions. Walls is what new infrastructure in our Professor Alexander Cambitoglou. need additional strengthening to hang museum will encourage, enabling us Finally, we feature weevils from the heavy artworks, security and storage to develop teaching and undertake Macleay collection, tiny individuals needs to be several notches above interdisciplinary collaborations. with the potential to be ‘the food general expectations, and then there of the future’. is the quality of finishes and materials The extraordinary breadth of our … the list goes on! The builders, CIS historic photography collection is Surprises abound! I hope you enjoy and museum staff have a whole new evident in two stories, poles apart. this issue. regard for each other’s expertise. The first features possibly one of the earliest photographs of a live animal, David Ellis On the subject of expertise, Muse and the second documents the Director, Museums and typically features discoveries from making of a silent movie in 1920 rural Cultural Engagement the collection by staff and other Queensland. 2019 is the centenary of contributors, and there are few the Bauhaus in Germany, and in this 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, June 2019. 19/7932 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 2 News 6 Ajax and Achilles Featuring the Trojan war heroes, 3 On the way up our new Cambitoglou Amphora The floors and ceilings for was acquired through the the lower levels of the Chau generosity of two benefactors. Chak Wing Museum have been poured. Next up is the fourth 9 The child within floor: a complex challenge in In the 1950s, fragments of an concrete pouring. ornately decorated limestone ossuary were excavated in a 4 A rare bird: the Roman‑period tomb at Jericho. tooth-billed pigeon Now reassembled for display, An 1863 photograph of the research reveals it was the tooth‑billed pigeon may be ossuary for a child. one of the earliest photos of a living animal. 10 Unbe-weevil-ble numbers An entomological numbering project draws attention to the secret life of weevils – their diversity and impact on humans. 12 Hollywood comes to Murgon 18 Bauhaus Diaspora and beyond A recently catalogued photograph On the centenary of the Bauhaus album reveals some early film and its ongoing influence, we history of Australia. preview an upcoming exhibition and publication. 14 Nicholson’s peacock mosaic Previously believed to be Sicilian, 23 Making history the celebrated peacock mosaic is See what our guests and staff revealed to be from the Via Appia have been up to. outside Rome. 24 Find your muse 16 Looking through the nano lens Upcoming events and programs. Researchers from art history, chemistry and nanoscience have come together to explore different ways of looking at art and the natural world. Above: Georg Teltscher, postcard for Above and cover detail: Red-figure amphora, Lucania, Italy, 420–390 BC, Bauhaus Exhibition Weimar, 1923 © attributed to the Palermo Painter, Nicholson Museum, NM82.32 the estate of the artist 1 News staff respectfully ensured that Māori kawa (rules) and tikanga (protocol) were followed during the temporary relocation. A karakia hiki taonga (relocation blessing) was carried out by Ngāpuhi community members including Brent Reihana, Marama Kamira, Marcia Hau, Harina Haare and myself. This ensured that Hongi was acknowledged appropriately and that his transportation would occur safely and respectfully. It was an honour to be the kaitiaki (cultural guardian) during this process. For the next few Fidler and Friends months, Hongi has pride of place as In a wonderful evening in Hongi’s hikoi part of the exhibition in Canberra. early May, ABC broadcaster In late February 2019, a carved Richard Fidler and author Kári wooden bust from the Macleay For more information about Hongi Gíslason spoke about their collections, representing the famous Hika, please visit the website: experiences researching the Māori chief Hongi Hika, went on loan − www.hongishikoi.com Icelandic sagas that led to their to the National Gallery of Australia in book, Saga Land. Both highly Canberra for the exhibition, Ta Moko Brent Kerehona accomplished storytellers, Māori Markings. University of Sydney (BA ’07 MTeach ’09 UWS) Richard and Kári described blood feuds, dangerous people, and tales of those compelled to kill the ones they love. Yet despite their violence, the sagas present incredibly touching stories about what makes us human, set against the spare beauty of Iceland itself. Richard and Kári concluded the evening by singing a haunting Icelandic lullaby. A Friend of the Nicholson emailed the next morning, “What an entertaining, informative and fun night – a splendid evening!” This was the second time that Onwards to Oxford period in the Levant, placing them Richard Fidler has spoken to Regular Nicholson researcher and into their late Antique (Byzantine) the Friends of the Nicholson Muse contributor, Ana Silkatcheva, context. This will be an expansion Museum, after talking about has earned a place at the University of of her work on Byzantine mosaics Byzantium in 2017. Both Oxford to pursue her Doctorate. On in Jordan, completed for her Master Richard and Kári are about to top of this achievement, she has also of Arts (Research) at the University publish books on Prague and been awarded a scholarship to assist of Sydney. We wish Ana all the best Iceland respectively. We hope with overseas student tuition fees and and look forward to further news to hear them speak at the a stipend. The HH Sheikh Hamad bin from Oxford. Nicholson Museum again soon. Khalifa Al Thani Scholarship in Islamic Art and Architecture will enable Ana Dr Paul Donnelly, Associate Director, Dr Jamie Fraser, Senior to research the mosaics of the Islamic Content, Chau Chak Wing Museum Curator, Nicholson Museum 2 This image, from March 2019, shows the third floor overlaid with each areas function. The main entrance foyer, coming off University Place, can be seen mid-left. of an institutional ceiling – lighting On the way up track, fire compliance, wi‑fi beacons among many other things – that have to be allocated a void in the underside _ of the pour. There is no moving them once tonnes of concrete are in place! Paul Donnelly gives insight into the exciting It is understandable that the rapid progress of the Chau Chak Wing Museum. progress of the last few months will slow down to accommodate these new challenges. In the meantime, the detailed and exciting preparation for The Chau Chak Wing Museum the door of the Great Hall opposite. exhibitions continues, with museum continues to make rapid progress As was the intention, there is no staff responding to the first stage of since the last edition of Muse, and doubting that this is the University design concepts prepared by the remains on schedule for a July of Sydney’s museum.