Antique Sterling Silver brooch from the 1889/90 South Seas Exhibition in Dunedin

The New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition was held in Dunedin between 26 November 1899 for a little short of 5 months until 19th April. The site of the exhibition was an area bound by Cumberland and Crawford Streets, stretching over 120 acres toward Anderson’s Bay Road in the south and Jervois Street in the North. As with all the Exhibitions there was a range of memento’s available, some as prizes in the side show area and others manufactured in the exhibition areas. This brooch is one of the latter and indeed one of the rarer. It is comprised of three medallions co-joined with a simple bar and c clasp. The two outer medallions feature the image of the “Moorish” style main pavilion on the obverse and on the reverse, a shield divided in four with symbols of Otago/New Zealand – Shipping, sheep farming, grain farming and gold mining. The shield is surmounted by a rising sun and bound by flags on the sides/ The centre medallion has a fairly plain obverse with a circular wreath and the legend ‘New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition 1889 – 90. The reverse has the image of the main pavilion with the medallion makers name Stokes and Martin. These were Australian based medal makers, based in Melbourne and in partnership from 1873 until 1893. This is a rare chance for the ‘exhibition’ collector to own something special. As photographs form an important part of the description, happy to provide additional images if requested. Please also take the time to check out our eclectic range of items being auctioned. #newzealandandsouthseasexhibition #dunedininternationalexhibition #otagoharbourboardland #cumberlandstreet #crawfordstreet #andersonsbayroad #jervoisstreet #brooch #sterlingsilvermedallions #threemedallions #moorishstylepavilion #stokesandmartin #1889-1890