• Title
  Item 18: Silver trowel used by Lachlan Macquarie at the ceremony of laying the first stone of the first Catholic chapel in Sydney, 29 Oct. 1821
• Creator
  Samuel Clayton, 1783?-1853
• Call number
  SAFE/R 328
  
• Level of description
  file
• Date
  
  1821
• Type of material
  Graphic Materials, Objects
• Reference code
  430599
• Issue Copy
  Digitised
• Physical Description
  1 trowel - engraved silver (elliptical in shape) with ivory handle - 28 cm. long
  1 sheath - chamois, to protect silver blade - 19 cm. (length) x 9 cm. (width at widest point) - stained
  
• ADMINISTRATIVE/ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
  
  The first Catholic chapel was erected on land granted to Fathers Conolly and Therry, now the site of the present day St. Mary's Cathedral. The original chapel burnt down on 29 June 1865 and the subsequent pro-cathedral suffered the same fate in 1869. Reference: 'Stories in Silver' display (curated by Brian Eggleton), State Library of New South Wales, 1996.
• Access Conditions
  
  Access via appointment
• Copying Conditions
  Out of copyright: Artist died before 1955
• General note
  
  Made and probably inscribed by S[amuel?] Clayton.
  Further information in notes held at PXn 957, duplicate at ML Doc 310. Silversmith Samuel Clayton was transported to Australia for 7 years in 1816, receiving his ticket of leave in 1824. He advertised his services widely in the 'Sydney Gazette', eg "Jewellery and silverwork made and repaired" (1820). For further information on Samuel Clayton, see Dictionary of Australian Artists / Joan Kerr. Melb, Vic : Oxford University Press, 1992.
  
  Marks: SC, and a blurred mark variously described as a kangaroo or a defaced castle. Further information about the silvermarks in notes held with item, duplicate at ML Doc 310.
  Coat of arms presumably used by Governor Macquarie engraved above raised triangle on the blade.
  
  This item has been preserved and digitised as part of the Nelson Meers Foundation Benefaction, 2005.
  Digital order no:Album ID : 824105
• Signatures / Inscriptions
  
  "The Captn. Gen. Governor & Commander in Chief, Vice Admiral, and Commander of the Forces in and over the Territory of New South Wales and its Dependencies. His Excellency Lachlan Macquarie Esq. Major General in the Army &c &c &c. Used this Instrument at the Ceremony of laying the first Stone of the first Catholic Chapel erected in the said Territory on the 29th day of Oct. A.D. 1821" -- engraved on blade
  "Wisdom, strenth & beauty / S. Clayton Fecit et Sculp" -- engraved at base of blade in a raised triangle
• Conservation note
  
  Polished with a soft cloth,19/06/1991 (Req.2290)
• Name
  Macquarie, Lachlan, 1761-1824
  
• Topic
  ceremonial objects
  churches
  coats of arms
  Governors
  trowels
  
• Exhibited in
  
  Stories in silver - State Library of New South Wales
  Australia's first Catholics - St. Mary's Cathedral (Sydney, N.S.W.) (September 2001 - September 2002)
  Nelson Meers Foundation Heritage Collection - July-Dec 2006
  The Governor: Lachlan Macquarie, 1810 to 1821 - State Library of New South Wales (July 2010 - October 2010)
  The Governor : Lachlan Macquarie, 1810 to 1821 (Travelling exhibition) - State Library of New South Wales (November, 2010 - March, 2012)

View Media Files

2.

3.

4.

5.

Show more