Casts
Middle Eastern Collection
92 Middle Eastern casts have been identified. Some are very large. The majority have inscriptions in various languages, many in cuneiform, and for that reason have been included in the Virtual Museum as texts. In some cases there is an indication of where the original is to be found. The casts have been on display in the Old Arts building for a number of years.
A large number of cylinder seal copies were not photographed or included in the Virtual Museum databases.
Classics Collection
Casts in the Classics Collection (excluding electrotype copies of coins) include:
- Bronze cast of Zeus (Poseidon?) displayed in the central courtyard of the Old Pathology building (a gift to the University from Greece on the occasion of the 1956 Olympic Games).
- Five plaques of six decorating three sides of two statue bases found in 1922 in the Themistoclean Wall, Athens. The originals are displayed in the National Archaeological Museum, Athens; the copies have decorated the walls of the Classics Department for many years.
- Two bronze-like metal portraits, of Hadrian and Nero, dating from the Roman period and found in Britain in the early 20th century. Originals now in the British Museum, the copies were purchased to decorate the 5th floor of the John Medley Building when the Department moved there (and still do).
- The Phaistos Disk.
- The Akropolis kore (by custom, in the professor of Classics' study).
- About 60 plaster casts of coins (not photographed).
Others
The Virtual Museum includes two casts in the personal collection of Professor Sear:
- Head of a bearded youth.
- Relief of Echelos (410 BC, from Phaleron near Athens).
Missing
- Charioteer of Delphi. This cast, which adorned the Old Arts Building for many years, and then the Medley Building, was found in the 1980s dismembered in a telephone booth in Carlton.
- The prow of a trireme, which used to adorn the first floor of the Old Arts Building (and may be in storage somewhere).
- In Medley 631 the 8th drawer contained 12 rectangular plaster casts measuring about 5 x 12 centimetres. One was in several pieces. There was no indication of their origin. These casts were were in the missing carton.
Correspondence in the Registrar's file 1925/139:
23 Nov 1927. |
Reg to Miss A Michaelis. Letter enclosed from Miss Webb asking her to buy casts, plus draft for £25 for cost and expenses. Please attend to paperwork. |
5 May 1928. |
Reg to Mr F D Michaelis. Thanks, we've already sent a cheque for the balance we owe you. |
Undated. |
FDM: "Melbourne University. We were recently approached by Professor C.T.Seltman of Cambridge, with a request to arrange for shipment several cases containing plaster casts etc., for the Melbourne Universiy. These casts were ordered by Professor Skutt of the University, who had evidently got to hear of the shipments made recently for Miss Alice Michaelis, also in connection with the University Museum, and who had informed Professor Seltman that we had been able to ship them free of charge. In this instance we have been asked to ship four cases and we have been able to arrange for their despatch free of charge on the "Port Gisborne". |
7 December 1928. |
Seltman to Webb. "The [vases etc] objects themselves are travelling in 3 cases (addressed to Prof. Scutt) which Messrs Michaelis, Hallenstein & Co. are having sent out. … A complete list of everything has also been sent to the Registrar … As for plaster-casts, I've got you an Acropolis Kore with paint, and I'm arranging for others to come as soon as possible." |
14 Dec 1928. |
Seltman to Reg. "In reply to your letter of Oct 5th … I am now going to attend to the plaster casts on which Professor Scutt desires to spend the greater part of the sum still outstanding." |
1 Jan 1929. |
Scutt (on board P&O SS Ballarat) to Reg. Please ask Council "that they make a further grant of £100 for reproductions such as the two already acquired for the Arts Building - I make this request now because while in Greece I may be able to obtain reproductions that can only be secured by vigorous action on the spot. If this is approved I should like to be informed immediately. My address will be "c/o National Bank of Australasia, Australia House. |
5 Feb 1929. |
F D Michaelis (441 Lonsdale St) to Reg. Shipment of plaster casts due on Port Gisborne tomorrow evening. Ref to previous parcel of casts shipped at the request of Miss Michaelis. |
8 Feb 1929. |
Reg to F D Michaelis. Thanks for 2 letters regarding shipment of plaster casts and the like from Mr Seltman to the University. Great! |
16 Feb 1929. |
Mayne Nickless got 4 cases of antiques from Port Gisborne. Customs chit same day. |
27 February 1929. |
Reg to Scutt. Thanks for yours of 1/1/29. "Also got approved the additional grant of £100 for further reproductions to ornament the Arts building". |
25 June 1929. |
Sorry, forgot to send you that £100 for reproductions. Here it is. |
And a separate set of casts: |
|
1 April 1930. |
Leighton Irwin, Director, Atelie. Gift of 5 large crates of casts from trustees of South Ken Museum, London. Free transport etc. |
1 May 1930. |
Reg to Gawler. Irwin's casts are used junk and they cost £100 freight! |
Apart from the Acropolis Kore, it is not known for certain what casts were purchased either from the Sutton Bequest or from the additional £100 entrusted to Professor Scutt.