Lot 298
298
A 10% Goods and Services tax (G.S.T) will be charg… Read more AN ARCHIVE RELATING TO THE LIFE AND WORK OF EDWARD FRANCIS ANTOINOS FISCHER (1828-1911) Edward Francis Antoinos Fischer (1828-1911), the prominent Geelong jeweller, gold and silversmith, was born in Vienna, Austria in 1828. The son of a successful Viennese jeweller, Fischer emigrated to Victoria on the Ship 'Emigrant' in 1853. At the time Victoria was gripped by 'gold fever' with vast discoveries of the mineral at Ballarat. Geelong founded on the shores of a deep-water bay was within easy distance of the gold fields and was often the first port of call for eager prospectors. Why Fischer chose Geelong to establish his business is unknown. The fact that he was in a town buoyed by an influx of population and wealth from the recent gold discoveries is plausible. Geelong also supported a small community of silver and goldsmiths with Fischer becoming the most prominent. The first public record of Fischer in Geelong is noted in the 'Geelong Advertiser' on the 5 June 1855 when he married Elizabeth Basely of Bath, England. In 1856 during the birth of their son Edward Robert, Elizabeth died. Fischer remarried in 1858 to Sarah Howell and this marriage produced seven daughters and a son, Harry Casper Fischer born in 1873. Advertising for business in 1857 as a jeweller and silversmith, Fischer was recorded as operating from Kirk's Place, Geelong. During the proceeding years Fischer became the pre-eminent silver and goldsmith in Victoria and in 1874 moved to a larger house and workshop on the corner of Ryrie and Bellarine Streets, Geelong. The most important and longest commission undertaken by Fischer was The Geelong Cup, a gold racing trophy that he made from 1873-1890. He was also responsible for a wealth of quality jewellery and special commissions in both gold and silver until he sold the business to his foreman Harry Page in 1891 and moved to Melbourne. Both of Fischer's sons became jewellers with Edward Robert recorded as operating between 1885-1895 in Fitzroy, Richmond and Bourke Street, Melbourne. Harry Casper was indentured to Burmeister Bros as a second year apprentice jeweller in 1892. In 1895, Harry Casper and Edward Robert operated as Jewellers from Collins Street, Melbourne in partnership with Fischer as 'Edward Fischer & Sons'. Fischer died at Ascot Vale on the 17 April 1911. This collection of jewellery designs by Edward Francis Antoinos Fischer together with documents such as his Certificate of Naturalisation, photographs of the Geelong workshop and the Indenture of his son Harry are an important historical archive. It records the life and talent of a man considered Australia's pre-eminent Colonial gold and silversmith.
- A COLLECTION OF FORTY-TWO DESIGNS Mainly of jewellery, drawn in pencil, pen and ink and watercolour on card and paper The designs comprising: - one of a cradle - one of a finial in the form of a merino ram - two of strap bangles with a horse shoe motif (for a very similar designed bangle see The Collection of the Geelong Art Gallery Inc) - two of hair on stick pins - one of a gem set star pendant brooch - one of a gem set clover brooch - three of a three stone bar brooch - three of medallions, each with a crest and motto within a belt - two of a fire brigade medal, one with a bar with lettering 'GEELONG' - four of medallions with floral borders, one with lettering for a 'flower show' - a number for various fobs and medallions, a number in the form of Maltese crosses and shields for various sports medals including cricket and bowling - one with lettering 'Hanow Cricket Club Presented to For Highest Bowling Average. Season 1888-89' - The certificate to naturalize: "Edward Fischer of Geelong ... a Native of Vienna Austria thirty years of age... having arrived by the ship 'Emigrant' dated Fifteenth day of February one thousand eight hundred and fifty eight" An Extract of Birth-Entry for "Harry Casper, son of Edward Francis Gunther Fischer and Sarah nee Howell, born at Geelong, 5th May 1873" - 1880 Geelong Industrial and Invenile Exhibition Gold Medal Certificate - A collection of carte de vista images of various items manufactured by Edward Fischer comprising: - The 1876 Geelong Gold Cup - The 1878 Geelong Gold Cup - The 1883 Geelong Gold Cup - A silver coursing cup and cover - Two of a claret jug, both inscribed in ink - the design is possibly that of the 1882 Geelong Gold Cup. A similar jug was probably used for the 1877 Geelong Gold Cup and the 1877 Elwick Cup (Cf. Hawkins ....... plate 259) - An apprenticeship indenture Between Edward Fischer and Burmeister Brothers and Harry C. Fischer, 7th April 1891 - Five carte de vista images One of Edward Fischer's workshop at the corner of Ryrie and Bellarine Streets, an earlier workshop, probably Kirk's Place, Harry Caspar Fischer's house, Edward and Sarah Fischer at a function, a large group in a park, and three of Sarah Howell (nee Fischer) Bibliography Christie's Australia, Decorative Arts, Melbourne 25 and 26 June 1991 Kurt Albrecht, Nineteenth Century Australian Gold and Silversmiths, Melbourne 1969 J.B. Hawkins, Nineteenth Century Australian Silver, Suffolk 1990

Details
- A COLLECTION OF FORTY-TWO DESIGNS
Mainly of jewellery, drawn in pencil, pen and ink and watercolour on card and paper
The designs comprising:
- one of a cradle
- one of a finial in the form of a merino ram
- two of strap bangles with a horse shoe motif (for a very similar designed bangle see The Collection of the Geelong Art Gallery Inc)
- two of hair on stick pins
- one of a gem set star pendant brooch
- one of a gem set clover brooch
- three of a three stone bar brooch
- three of medallions, each with a crest and motto within a belt
- two of a fire brigade medal, one with a bar with lettering 'GEELONG' - four of medallions with floral borders, one with lettering for a 'flower show'
- a number for various fobs and medallions, a number in the form of Maltese crosses and shields for various sports medals including cricket and bowling
- one with lettering 'Hanow Cricket Club Presented to For Highest Bowling Average. Season 1888-89'
- The certificate to naturalize:
"Edward Fischer of Geelong ... a Native of Vienna Austria thirty years of age... having arrived by the ship 'Emigrant' dated Fifteenth day of February one thousand eight hundred and fifty eight"
An Extract of Birth-Entry for "Harry Casper, son of Edward Francis Gunther Fischer and Sarah nee Howell, born at Geelong, 5th May 1873"
- 1880 Geelong Industrial and Invenile Exhibition Gold Medal Certificate
- A collection of carte de vista images of various items manufactured by Edward Fischer comprising: - The 1876 Geelong Gold Cup
- The 1878 Geelong Gold Cup
- The 1883 Geelong Gold Cup
- A silver coursing cup and cover
- Two of a claret jug, both inscribed in ink - the design is possibly that of the 1882 Geelong Gold Cup. A similar jug was probably used for the 1877 Geelong Gold Cup and the 1877 Elwick Cup (Cf. Hawkins ....... plate 259)
- An apprenticeship indenture
Between Edward Fischer and Burmeister Brothers and Harry C. Fischer, 7th April 1891
- Five carte de vista images
One of Edward Fischer's workshop at the corner of Ryrie and Bellarine Streets, an earlier workshop, probably Kirk's Place, Harry Caspar Fischer's house, Edward and Sarah Fischer at a function, a large group in a park, and three of Sarah Howell (nee Fischer)

Bibliography
Christie's Australia, Decorative Arts, Melbourne 25 and 26 June 1991
Kurt Albrecht, Nineteenth Century Australian Gold and Silversmiths, Melbourne 1969
J.B. Hawkins, Nineteenth Century Australian Silver, Suffolk 1990
Special notice
A 10% Goods and Services tax (G.S.T) will be charged on the Buyer's Premium on all lots in this sale.

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