Silver Spoon Antiques

F & W Stewart, Jewellers, was established at 147 Charles Street, Launceston, in 1879 by brothers Frederic and William Stewart. The Stewart brothers are considered Tasmania's first medallists. The business prospered, and was listed as a shareholder in the Princess River Gold Mining Company in 1887. In 1902 the brothers purchased a property at 100 Charles Street, where the business remains to this day, still in family hands. According to Roger McNeice, it was described as a 'palatial jewellery establishment' and one of the finest in Australia. The company struck 'quite a few' medallions and medalets for local events and exhibitions during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The issues are of importance because they cover five major events: the Launceston Industrial Exhibition of 1886-67, the Jubilee of Queen Victoria 1887, the Tasmanian exhibition of 1891-92, the Centenary of Launceston 1906 and the Australian Natives' Association Exhibition, Launcest

The Society of Arts and Crafts of NSW was a guild of artists in New South Wales, Australia established in 1906 by 6 craftspeople. The Society held its first exhibition in 1907 and continued to hold annual exhibitions into the 1930s, with works of metalwork, jewellery, pottery, china painting, weaving, embroidery and pokerwork displayed and sold. Henry Farmer was a former mayor of Manly and with his wife Rachel had two daughters, Helen and Marjorie. The two Farmer sisters were involved in the Society in the late 1920s-early 1930s. Helen already had a reputation as an artist, being well known for her etchings. Her younger sister Marjorie was more of a jack of all trades and is recorded as creating a number of different pieces in different mediums. She also served on the executive in 1928. After the death of their parents, both sisters moved out to Bathurst in 1936 and lived there for the rest of their lives. A description of some of the work noted by Miss Farmer and other members.

Joseph Hendry Grice, Brisbane  (working from c.1900 to c.1920) Joseph Hendry Grice was born in Brisbane in 1877 and opened his own store in Queen Street on Aug 5th 1907. He had previously been in a partnership Swift & Grice and had a store in the Valley (from around 1902). He was active in the Brisbane Municipal Band. He cleared most of his stock in 1917 to move to smaller premises in the basement of the same address. By 1920 the business was still trading under his name in Adelaide Street, but was now owned by Mr Bishop when a large amount of jewellery (1000 pounds worth!) was stolen in a robbery. The name appears to have been changed to the well known Wallace Bishop by 1922. In the 1920s Grice was the mayor of Southport. Opening advertisement 1907 In both the partnership Swift & Grice and as a sole trader, Grice donated a number of trophies and gold medals for various sporting events including swimming, skating and cricket. Show below is a gold fob with the o