Lot 3304

Description

First Australian Exhibition of Womens Work, Melbourne, 1907, in silver (26mm) in fitted, ornate cross shaped frame (43x45mm) with suspension, by Newman, obverse, arms of Lord Northcote, Governor General of Australia, reverse, Highest/Award For/ (inscribed) 'Alto Solo/over 20/Carmen Pinschof'; also another identical medal inscribed, 'Mezzo Sop Solo/over 20/ Carmen Pinschof'. Good very fine. (2)

Lady Northcote was sponsor of this exhibition that was held in the Melbourne Exhibition Building with the opening ceremony on 23 October 1907. The exhibition continued for almost six weeks and included approximately 16,000 exhibits.

Carmen Pinschof was one of the daughters of Carl Ludwig Pinschof (1855-1926), merchant, economist and consul, and his wife Elise Wiedermann (1851-1922), soprano. Carl Pinschof, born in Vienna, Austria became honorary secretary of the Austrian commission to the Sydney International Exhibition in 1879. Encouraged by the 209 prizes, including 95 first prizes, won by the 251 Austrian companies represented, he decided when passing through Melbourne, on his way home, to settle there. He returned in time for the International Exhibition which opened in October 1880. He and his wife became leading patrons of music and art in Melbourne. They were foundation supporters of the Marshall-Hall Orchestra and Carl was one of the founding members of the Lady Northcote Permanent Orchestra Trust Fund. See Carl Pinschof's full biography by Raoul F.Middelmann published in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol 11, (MUP), 1988. Carmen Pinschof continued with a career in opera becoming a main singer, a celebrated dramatic mezzo-soprano, under her married name of Carmen Pascova. See also Australiana Magazine, Vol 24 No.2, May 2002.