A silver gelatin dry plate glass negative in landscape format.

Country Always

Caring for Country

A Corner of the Empire

The Garden Palace

Sepia photograph of the Technological Museum and a cow in the foreground

The Holding Pen

The Agricultural Hall

Sepia photograph of the Technological College and Museum in Broken Hill

Regional Networks

Across New South Wales

A Museum of Doing

Technological Museum

Colour photograph of red corrugated iron building from a high vantage point

Transforming the Tramsheds

Powerhouse Stage 1 and the Harwood Building

A Symbol in Time

Sydney Observatory

Powerhouse Museum, Stage 2 exterior from high angle, city skyline in background

Ongoing Transformations

Powerhouse Ultimo

Blurred image from film with museum object number

Applied Arts and Sciences

Defining the terms in the 21st century

Powerhouse Renewal

Two people standing next to a cow in a field of cows.

Powerhouse Food: Producers

Across Western Sydney24 Aug 2024 — 25 Jul 2025

We Rise

Blak Powerhouse

A tall rocket with a long trail of burning fuel lifts off from a launchpad at Cape Canaveral.

Powerhouse-1 Mission Launch to the ISS

An initiative of the Powerhouse: Future Space program

Photofields

Across Sydney6—7 Dec
Shadows cast by the Powerhouse Parramatta exoskeleton on concrete

Exoskeleton

Powerhouse Parramatta

A woman stands on stage in front of a large audience. She has her left hand raised in the air and a microphone in her right hand. The audience are holding their phones up recording the woman.

Blak Powerhouse 2023

Powerhouse x We Are Warriors

Slider thumb2024

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.

Transport Collection

Model of a British line of battleship

Loan No. L489

Object Statement
Model of a British line of battle ship, wood / metal / string period, c.1705

Credit Line
Lent by Mr S L Beeston, Kensington, Australia, 1936

Notes

1936
Lent by S L Beeston (Deceased, 1985)

1985
Miss Breckenridge acts as executor of Mr Beeston’s Estate

Middle East Collection

Sufi vases, cast, hand chased and pierced, brass, Isfahan / Shiraz, Persia (Iran),

Sufi vases from Persia

Loan No. L934

Object Statement
Sufi vases, cast, hand chased and pierced, brass, Isfahan / Shiraz, Persia (Iran), Qajar era, 1900s

Credit Line
Lent by Mr Fairness, Persia, 1958

Notes

1958
Lent by Mr Fairness, Persia

Unknown date – 1958
Owned by Mr Fairness, Persia

Oil lamp, earthenware, maker unknown, Middle East, 9th–12th centuries C

Earthenware oil lamp from Middle East

Loan No. L936-1

Object Statement
Oil lamp, earthenware, maker unknown, Middle East, 900s → 1200s

Credit Line
Lent by P J Grundfest, 1959

Notes

1959
Lent by P J Grundfest on behalf of Mr Bernard Havinden of Junee

Oil lamp, earthenware, maker unknown, Middle East, 9th–12th centuries CE

Earthenware oil lamp from Middle East

Loan No. L936-2

Object Statement
Oil lamp, earthenware, maker unknown, Middle East, 900s → 1200s

Credit Line
Lent by P J Grundfest, 1959

Notes

1959
Lent by P J Grundfest on behalf of Mr Bernard Havinden of Junee

Oil lamp, earthenware, maker unknown, Middle East, 9th–12th centuries CE

Earthenware oil lamp from Middle East

Loan No. L936-3

Object Statement
Oil lamp, earthenware, maker unknown, Middle East, 900s → 1200s

Credit Line
Lent by P J Grundfest

Date
1959

Notes

Lent by P J Grundfest on behalf of Mr Bernard Havinden of Junee

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 – 2005
Owned by Alastair Morrison, ACT, Australia

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

Prior to 2002
Alex Biancardi

View

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

View

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

View

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

View

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

View

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

View

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

View

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

View

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

View

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

View

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

View

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.

View

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

View

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

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Governance

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

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