Selection of flatware and cutlery owned by Conrad Martens and Jane Martens, ca. 1786-1841

SAFE/DR 35
Status: On display. Objects Gallery. Case 3, Shelf 56. Applies to SAFE/DR 35/Items 1 - 39

fonds

ca. 1786-1841

Graphic Materials, Objects

457896

2 sauce ladles - 18 cm. long - Fiddle, thread and shell design
1 soup ladle - 32.5 cm. long - Old English Thread design
6 tablespoons - 23 cm. long - Old English Fiddle design
2 mustard spoons - 10 cm. long - Old English Fiddle design
1 jam spoon - 11 cm. long - Old English design
13 teaspoons - 14 cm. long - Old English Fiddle design
6 forks - 17 cm. long - Old English Fiddle design
6 forks - 17 cm. long - Old English design
1 fish knife - 11 cm. long
1 stirring rod - 21 cm long

Conrad Martens, artist, was born at Crutched Friars near the Tower of London in 1801. He arrived in Sydney in 1835 where he remained until his death in 1878. In 1837 he married Jane Brackenbury Carter, their first child Rebecca was born in 1838 and their second daughter Elizabeth in 1839. A son, born in 1844, died in infancy. Jane Martens' father, William Carter, emigrated in 1824 to take up the position as Australia's first Master in Chancery of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. Sir William Dixson purchased the cutlery from the estate of Rebecca Martens.

Silversmith Alexander Dick was born in Edinburgh, Scotland and arrived in Sydney in 1824 where he gained employment as a silversmith. The 1828 census shows that he employed two silversmiths, two jewellers and a servant girl. He soon moved to new premises at 6 Williams Place, George Street, where he employed up to six other craftsmen. Other silversmiths whose work is represented in this cutlery are Hippolitus Poignand and William Henry Twentyman. These silver makers had their businesses in Calcutta and exported their wares to Sydney. The silver is known as Anglo-Indian silver.

References:
India, China, Australia: trade and society 1788-1850 by James Broadbent. Glebe, 2003. SRL NQ994.02/26.
Australian silver, 1800-1900 by J.B. Hawkins. Sydney, 1973. SRL E739.237034/Haw.
Conrad Martens life and art by Elizabeth Ellis. Sydney, 1994. ML REF1/Q759.994/M377/3A.
Australian Dictionary of Biography online edition.

MARTENS FAMILY
1 soup ladle: Date 1799; Standard mark sterling .925; Crowned leopard head; Duty mark 1786-1821; Solomon Houghman maker
2 tablespoons: Date 1830; Standard mark sterling .925; City mark of London, uncrowned leopard head; Duty mark 1822-1833; no maker's mark
4 tablespoons: Date 1835; Standard mark sterling .925; City mark of Sheffield; Not able to identify maker
1 mustard spoon: Date 1786; Standard mark sterling .925; City mark of London; Duty mark 1786-1821; James Hyde maker
1 mustard spoon: Date 1830; Standard mark sterling .925; City mark of London, uncrowned leopard's head; Duty mark 1822-1833; No maker's mark
2 teaspoons: Date 1830; Standard mark sterling .925; City mark of London, uncrowned leopard head; Duty mark 1822-1833; No maker's mark
3 teaspoons: Date 1832; Standard mark sterling .925; City mark of London, uncrowned leopard head; Duty mark 1822-1833; William Chinnery maker
2 teaspoons: Date 1841; Standard mark sterling .925; City mark of London, leopard head; Duty mark 1838-1890; Maker's mark of CN
3 dessertspoons: Date 1793-1794; Standard mark sterling .925; City mark of Newcastle; Duty mark 1786-1821; John Robertson II and John Walton makers
2 dessertspoons: Date 1812; Standard mark sterling .925; City mark of London, crowned leopard head; Duty mark 1786-1821; William Eley I maker
1 dessertspoon: Date 1823; Standard mark sterling .925; City mark of London, uncrowned leopard head; Duty mark 1822-1833; William Eley and William Fearn makers

CARTER FAMILY
1 jam spoon: ca 1827-1830 silverplate; Stamp of head; Fork mark; Hippolitus Poignand maker
1 teaspoon: ca 1827-1830; Castle; Anchor; N.S.W.; Alexander Dick maker
1 teaspoon: ca 1827-1830; Castle; Anchor; Alexander Dick maker
3 teaspoons: ca 1827-1830; Castle; Anchor; D; Alexander Dick maker
1 teaspoon: ca 1837; Standard mark sterling .925; Crowned leopard head, London maker W. Eaton, AD. By Alexander Dick.
6 forks: ca 1830s; Silverplate; Moon/Star; Anchor and rope; Star; William Henry Twentyman maker

MARTENS/CARTER FAMILY
2 sauce ladles: Date 1837; Standard mark sterling .925; City mark of London, uncrowned leopard head; Duty mark 1834-1837; Mary Chawner maker
1 fish knife: Silverplate; unidentifible markings; no handle
1 stirring rod: trimmed silver coin at base, 1814 date
1 envelope containing six pieces of paper, each inscribed with notes. One piece has the following inscription: 'Note enclosed. It is in the handwriting of R.T. Carter who looked after the affairs of Mrs. and Miss Martens during their later years. A.H.S.'
'A.H.S.' is A.H. Spencer, Melbourne bookseller.

Initials of 'WIC' are for William Carter, Martens' father-in-law, or combines initials of William Carter and his wife Jane (i.e. I).

All items have Standard, City, Duty, Date and Maker's marks. 22 items have family crest of Conrad Martens, of a trefoil between two wings. 13 items have initials of 'WIC'. The stamp for wax seals is engraved with the Austrian Empire coat-of-arms and date of 1814.

Stories in silver - State Library of New South Wales
Journeys through Landscapes - Conrad Martens Life & Art - State Library of New South Wales (November, 1994 - July, 1995)