Aust Historical Medals

Lot 694       Aust Historical Medals

Estimate $4,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $3,700

A GROUP OF AGRICULTURAL MEDALS INCLUDING; Port Phillip Farmers Society, in silver (39mm) by Arnoldi, inscribed on reverse 'Cart & Plough Harness/Second Prize/to/Mr Clark/1857'; Port Phillip Farmers Society (51mm) inscribed on reverse 'Chinese Geese/First Prize/to/Mr J.G. Clark/1857'; Victoria Industrial Society, in silver (32mm) mounted in an ornate wreath surround, inscribed on reverse 'Awarded/to/John Clarke/For the Best Twelve/Basils/ Exhibited Feby./1858'; Victoria Industrial Society, in silver (32mm) mounted in an ornate wreath surround, inscribed on reverse 'Awarded/to/John Clarke/For the Best/Skirt Hides/or/Bag Leather/February/1858'; Port Phillip Farmers Society, in silver (51mm) inscribed on reverse 'Sow/Small Breed under 12 Months/First Prize/Awarded to/Mr D.G. Clarke/Annual Exhibition 1859'; Port Phillip Farmers Society, in silver (50mm) inscribed on reverse 'Litter under 3 Months old/First Prize/Awarded to/Mr D.G. Clark/Annual Exhibition 1859'; London Exhibition, 1862, in bronze (77mm) by L.C. Wyon, edge impressed 'J.Clark. Class XXVI'; Dublin International Exhibition, 1865, in bronze (76mm) by Alex Geefs, Brussels, inscribed on reverse 'Section XVI B/Clark & Son'; Paris International Exhibition, 1867, in bronze (51mm) by HG.Ponscarme, impressed on reverse 'Clark & Fils'; National Agricultural Society of Victoria, 1873, in silver (51mm) by J. Hogarth, inscribed on reverse 'J.W. Clark & Sons'; Philadelphia International Exhibition, 1876, in bronze (77mm) by H. Mitchell, uninscribed; Melbourne International Exhibition, 1880, in bronze (76mm) by H. Stokes, edge impressed 'D.G. Clark Juror'; Paris International Exhibition, 1889, in bronze (64mm) by L.Bottee, impressed on reverse 'J. Clark & Sons'; Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria, Champion Prize, in silver (48mm) inscribed on reverse 'D.G. Clark/for/Roadster Mare/1893'; Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria, Champion Prize, in silver (48mm) inscribed on reverse 'J.G. Clark/for/Trotting Stallion/1893'; Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria, Champion Prize, in silver (48mm) inscribed on reverse 'J.G. Clark/for/Thorobred Mare/1893'; Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria, Champion Prize, in silver (48mm) inscribed on reverse 'D.G. Clark/for/Trotting Stallions/1895'; Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria, Champion Prize, in silver (48mm) inscribed on revrse 'Geo Clark/for/Potatoes/1902'. Very fine-extremely fine. (18)

John Clark (1812-1866) was a saddler and harness maker at 157 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne (believed established in the 1840's). In 1854 he purchased the Stafford Tannery in Richmond. He later formed a partnership with his two sons, David G. (born 1838) and George (born 1843) and carried on the Tannery in addition to the leather business in Elizabeth Street, later this business moved to Lonsdale Street. In January 1866, John Clark and his son George were lost on the 'London' which was wrecked in the Bay of Biscay on the return journey to Australia. The businesses were carried on by David G. Clark until the 1890's. David G. Clark also owned a property in Gippsland, south of Rosedale named 'Richmond Vale' after the Melbourne suburb he resided in for many years, where he ran Polled Aberdeen Angus cattle and trotting horses. In 1900 a bushfire destroyed the homestead and 500 acres of land. Amongst the property destroyed were numerous medals and cups won at the leading shows of Australia. Some of the cups and medals were those of the old Port Phillip Agricultural Society which subsequently became the National and finally the Royal Agricultural Society. 'Richmond Vale' was offered for Closer Settlement in 1905. (Provenance: by direct descent)