• Title
  [Plaster cast of The guardian of the emu totem, Central Australia, for panel in Mitchell Library doors, ca. 1940 / cast from a sculpture by Ralph T. Walker]
• Creator
  Ralph Walker
• Call number
  PM 163
  
• Level of description
  fonds
• Date
  
  ca. 1940
• Type of material
  Graphic Materials, Objects
• Reference code
  982593
• Physical Description
  1 plaster cast - 42.3 x 35.5 cm in frame
  
• ADMINISTRATIVE/ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
  
  Ralph Walker was an Australian draughtsman, printmaker and sculptor. In his life he created thousands of drawings and hundreds of pieces of sculpture ranging from life size figures to miniatures. Walker is noted as one of the first Australian artists to give Aboriginal people integrity and honour through his work.
  
  During the construction of the new Mitchell Library which commenced in 1940, the Principal Librarian William Ifould was inspired to give the new building bronze entrance doors that he had seen used in grand public buildings in America. He approached Sir William Dixson, and suggested to him that he might give the doors to the Library in memory of David Scott Mitchell. Dixson graciously accepted and seven sculptors and modellers were contracted to supply specimens of bas-relief sculptures to be assessed for inclusion on the doors.
  
  Ralph T. Walker’s sculpture titled ‘The Guardian of the Emu Totem, Central Australia’, was one of the chosen sculptures that was cast in bronze by molders from Wunderlich Ltd. William Ifould retained this plaster cast as a sample.
  
  References
  A source of inspiration & delight : the buildings of the State Library of New South Wales since 1826 / David J. Jones. Sydney : Library Council of New South Wales, c1988.
  
  Principality of Wy / Paul Delprat. http://principalityofwy.com/ (Accessed 22-08-2012)
• Collection history
  From the estate of William Ifould, Sydney, NSW.
• Scope and Content
  The plaster cast is painted in a dark-bronze colour.
  
  Depicted is an Aboriginal man sitting cross legged with his hands in his lap. On his right is a vertical tree trunk with foliage on top. The ground he is sitting on is raised from the background.
• Access Conditions
  
  Access via appointment
• Copying Conditions
  Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
• Description source
  
  Title and creator taken from plaster sculpture of same work located at PM 164.
• Creator/Author/Artist
  Wunderlich Limited
  
• Name
  Dixson, William, Sir, 1870-1952
  Ifould, W. H. (William Herbert), 1877-1969
  Mitchell Library (N.S.W.)
  
• Subject
  Plaster casts.
  Aboriginal Australians--Australia, Central--Pictorial works
  
• Topic
  Aboriginal peoples (Australians)
  plaster casts (art)
  totem poles
  bronze doors
  
• Place
  Central Australia
  
• Open Rosetta viewer
  IE17684544

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