State of Origin, R A Fredman

Vol 48 no 3, August 2026
Article from Vol 48 no 3, August 2026

State of Origin, R A Fredman

Abstract:

In several Australiana articles John Hawkins identified the influence of traditional regional British styles in Australian colonial furniture. Germanic traditions in some South Australian and Queensland furniture are well known. Now Bob Fredman explores how we can identify Tasmanian furniture. Ideally, we would start by identifying pieces with Tasmanian maker's marks and extrapolate, but these are rare. Analysing specific pieces of furniture, admittedly of unproven origin, he hypothesises that several stylistic elements are typically Tasmanian. To test his theory, we encourage readers to submit evidence of marked pieces sharing these features, which may help us recognise furniture of Tasmanian manufacture (or not).

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The Australiana Society acknowledges Australia’s First Nations Peoples – the First Australians – as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land and gives respect to the Elders – past and present – and through them to all Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.