Provenance | Powerhouse

Country Always

Country Always

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A Corner of the Empire

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The Garden Palace

The Holding Pen

The Holding Pen

The Agricultural Hall

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Technological Museum

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Evolution of the Castle Hill site from botanical research station to Museum Discovery Centre

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Powerhouse Stage 1 and the Harwood Building

A Symbol in Time

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Powerhouse-1 Mission Launch to the ISS

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2024

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Exoskeleton

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Powerhouse Parramatta

Parramatta

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Provenance

Powerhouse has identified a group of objects requiring further research into their provenance. The museum welcomes any information that may help fill in gaps such as those caused by incomplete chain of titles or missing evidence of provenance details. Details may be refined and updated as research progresses.

Asian Collection

Figure, of Kubera (Jambhala/Vaisravana) on a dragon, silver / turquoise, Tibet / China, 1700s

Figure of Kubera on a dragon

Accession No. 2014/132/31

Object Statement
Figure, of Kubera (Jambhala/Vaisravana) on a dragon, silver / turquoise, Tibet / China, 1700s

Credit Line
Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by Alastair Morrison

Notes

2005
Acquired into the Powerhouse Collection through the Cultural Gifts Program

Unknown date – 2005Owned by Alastair Morrison, ACT, Australia

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June 2002
Sold through Parkham Place Gallery, Surry Hills, Australia

Prior to 2002
Alex Biancardi

Bell, five-metal bronze alloy, Tibet, 1700–1800s

Tibetan vajra

Accession No. 2014/132/28

Object Statement
Bell, five-metal bronze alloy, Tibet, 1700s → 1800s

Credit Line
Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by Alastair Morrison

Notes

2005
Acquired into the Powerhouse Collection through the Cultural Gifts Program

Unknown date – 2005
Owned by Alastair Morrison, ACT, Australia

June 2002
Sold through Parkham Place Gallery, Surry Hills, Australia

Prior to 2002
Alex Biancardi

Bell, five-metal bronze alloy, Tibet, 1700–1800s

Ritual bell from Tibet

Accession No. 2014/132/29

Object Statement
Bell, five-metal bronze alloy, Tibet, 1700s → 1800s

Credit Line
Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by Alastair Morrison

Notes

2005
Acquired into the Powerhouse Collection through the Cultural Gifts Program

Unknown date – 2005
Owned by Alastair Morrison, ACT, Australia

June 2002
Sold through Parkham Place Gallery, Surry Hills, Australia

Prior to 2002
Alex Biancardi

Figure, of Buddha Sakyamuni, copper / stone / textile, Nepal, 800s–900s, base is of unknown later date

Standing Buddha figure from Nepal

Accession No. 2014/132/34

Object Statement
Figure, of Buddha Sakyamuni, copper / stone / textile, Nepal, 800s → 900s, base is of unknown later date

Credit line
Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by Alastair Morrison

Notes

2005
Acquired into the Powerhouse Collection through the Cultural Gifts Program

Unknown date – 2005
Owned by Alastair Morrison, ACT, Australia

June 2002
Sold through Parkham Place Gallery, Surry Hills, Australia

Prior to 2002
Alex Biancardi

Figure, of Padmapani, bronze, Java, Indonesia 800s–900s

Padmapani figure from Java

Accession No. 2014/132/38

Object Statement
Figure, of Padmapani, bronze, Java, Indonesia, 800s → 900s

Credit Line
Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by Alastair Morrison

Notes

2005
Acquired into the Powerhouse Collection through the Cultural Gifts Program

Unknown date – 2005
Owned by Alastair Morrison, ACT, Australia

June 2002
Sold through Parkham Place Gallery, Surry Hills, Australia

Prior to 2002
Alex Biancardi

Figure, of Gautama Buddha, bronze, India, 1000s–1100s

Shakyamuni Buddha figure from India

Accession No. 2014/132/42

Object Statement
Figure, of Gautama Buddha, bronze, India, 1000s → 1100s

Credit Line
Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by Alastair Morrison

Notes

2005
Acquired into the Powerhouse Collection through the Cultural Gifts Program

Unknown date – 2005
Owned by Alastair Morrison, ACT, Australia

June 2002
Sold through Parkham Place Gallery, Surry Hills, Australia

Prior to 2002
Alex Biancardi

Figure, of Dhynibuddha Vairochana, bronze, Java (Indonesia, 800s → 900s

Dhyani Buddha Vairochana figure from Indonesia

Accession No. 2014/132/27

Object Statement
Figure, of Dhynibuddha Vairochana, bronze, Java, Indonesia, 800s → 900s

Credit Line
Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by Alastair Morrison

Notes

2005
Acquired into the Powerhouse Collection through the Cultural Gifts Program

Unknown date – 2005
Owned by Alastair Morrison, ACT, Australia

June 2002
Sold through Parkham Place Gallery, Surry Hills, Australia

Prior to 2002
Alex Biancardi

Sculpture, of Kadampa Chorten (stupa), bronze, Tibet, 1200s

Kadampa Chorten (stupa) sculpture from Tibet

Accession No. 2014/132/26

Object Statement
Sculpture, of Kadampa Chorten (stupa), bronze, Tibet, 1200s

Credit Line
Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by Alastair Morrison

Notes

2005
Acquired into the Powerhouse Collection through the Cultural Gifts Program

Unknown date – 2005
Owned by Alastair Morrison, ACT, Australia

June 2002
Sold through Parkham Place Gallery, Surry Hills, Australia

Prior to 2002
Alex Biancardi

Figure, of seated Buddha, bronze, Cambodia (Khmer), 1000s

Bronze figure of seated Buddha from Cambodia

Accession No. 2014/132/36

Object Statement
Figure, of seated Buddha, bronze, Cambodia (Khmer), 1000s

Credit Line
Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by Alastair Morrison

Notes

2005
Acquired into the Powerhouse Collection through the Cultural Gifts Program

Unknown date – 2005
Owned by Alastair Morrison, ACT, Australia

June 2002
Sold through Parkham Place Gallery, Surry Hills, Australia

Prior to 2002
Alex Biancardi

Bronze figure of Buddha Muchalinda from Cambodia

Accession No. 2014/132/35

Object Statement
Figure, of Buddha Muchalinda, bronze, Cambodia (Khmer), 1100s

Credit Line
Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by Alastair Morrison

Notes

2005
Acquired into the Powerhouse Collection through the Cultural Gifts Program

Unknown date – 2005
Owned by Alastair Morrison, ACT, Australia

June 2002
Sold through Parkham Place Gallery, Surry Hills, Australia

Prior to 2002
Alex Biancardi

Cast bronze, maker unknown, Tartar City, Beijing, China, 1438 (Ming dynasty).

Temple bell from China

Accession No. H7752

Object Statement
Cast bronze, maker unknown, Tartar City, Beijing, China, 1438 (Ming dynasty). Transferred to Powerhouse Museum from the Australian Museum in 1942

Notes

February 1902–1942
Australian Museum Accession no. H541.
Donated to the Australian Museum by Hon. John See (Premier of NSW and Colonial Secretary)

June 1901
On display at the Children’s Industrial Exhibition, Moore Park

May 1901
Brought back from Beijing. It was at the China Navigation Co’s Wharf, Miller’s Point, Sydney (according to a letter to the Colonial secretary (John See) dated 13 May 1901 from A Gillespie, Captain commanding NSW Naval Contingent)

1900
The bell was acquired by a party of NSW China contingent who were serving with the British troops in China and found it half buried in the ground of a ruined Buddhist temple in the ‘Tartar city’ of Beijing

Cheval mirror, blackwood / glass / lacquer / metal, unknown maker, Beijing, China, 19th century

Standing mirror from China

Accession No. H7751

Object Statement
Cheval mirror, blackwood / glass / lacquer / metal, unknown maker, possibly used in the Wanshou si (Temple of Longevity), Beijing, China, 1900s. Transferred to Powerhouse Museum from the Australian Museum in 1942

Notes

February 1902–1942
Australian Museum Accession no. H541.
Donated to the Australian Museum by Hon. John See (Premier of NSW and Colonial Secretary)

May 1901
Brought back from Beijing. It was at the China Navigation Co’s Wharf, Miller’s Point, Sydney (according to a letter to the Colonial secretary (John See) dated 13 May 1901 from A Gillespie, Captain commanding NSW Naval Contingent)

1900
The mirror was acquired from the Imperial ‘Temple of Thousand Ages’, near the Summer Palace by a party of NSW China contingent who were serving with the British troops in China.

Umbrella, Chinese yellow silk, cotton and bamboo, Beijing, China, 19th century.

Umbrella from China

Accession No. A7025

Object Statement
Umbrella, Chinese yellow silk, cotton and bamboo, Beijing, China, 1900s. Transferred to Powerhouse Museum from the Australian Museum in 1942

Notes

February 1902–1942
Australian Museum Accession no. H535.
Donated to the Australian Museum by Hon. John See (Premier of NSW and Colonial Secretary)

June 1901
On display at the Children’s Industrial Exhibition, Moore Park

May 1901
Brought back from Beijing. It was at the China Navigation Co’s Wharf, Miller’s Point, Sydney (according to a letter to the Colonial secretary (John See) dated 13 May 1901 from A Gillespie, Captain commanding NSW Naval Contingent)

1900
The umbrella was given to the NSW China contingent by the Prize Committee in Beijing and brought back by a party from this contingent who were serving with the British troops in China

About Provenance Research Project

Powerhouse Museum is a major cultural institution that collects, preserves, documents and displays Australian material culture and its global impact. The Powerhouse Collection spans a broad range of media and materials across the applied arts and sciences. The museum conforms to appropriate policy and guidelines to ensure the objects it brings into the collection or borrows for exhibitions have clear title and history of ownership (provenance) and it follows legislation relevant to movable cultural heritage.

Protection of Cultural Objects on Loan

Office for the Arts

Further information about the Act and PCOL Scheme can be found on the Commonwealth Office for the Arts website.

Protection of Cultural Objects on Loan

Learn more about the diligence for works acquired into the Powerhouse Collection.