This artificial fruit arrangement was made by Reading Son and Steffanoni around 1865-1875.

Reading Son and Steffanoni was an Australian company, based in Market Street, Sydney from c. 1852, until the last Steffanoni retired in 1924.

Artificial fruit arrangement, leather / glass dome / wood, made by Reading Son and Steffanoni, Sydney, Australia, 1865-1875

An arrangement of artificial fruit made of leather, housed inside a glass dome with a wooden footed base. The fruit includes grapes, a pineapple, pear and banana and it is finished in clear shellac. Underneath the fruit is a shallow, leather covered wooden dish with a flared rim, lined with leather leaves. The base of the dome is covered in dark green and brown velvet.

Made: Reading Son and Steffanoni; England; 1865 - 1875

A large adhesive label under the base reads 'Reading, Son and Steffanoni importers of Berlin wools and g(illeg.) fingering yarns (illeg.) red and braided goods, glass [shades]...'. Also written is their address '92 & 94 Market St' removed to '224 Pitt St'.

A4434

1865 - 1875

350 mm

340 mm

340 mm