Lot 327

Description

Sydney International Exhibition, M.D.CCC LXXIX (1879), no stop after CCC, in bronze with unofficial gilt finish (76mm), by J.S. & A.B.Wyon, reverse inscribed, 'Awarded/to/G.D.Guthrie/Bendigo Pottery/Sandhurst'. Very fine.

George Duncan Guthrie emigrated from Scotland to Sydney, at the age of 22, arriving in 1852. He tried a few failed business ventures and moved to Victoria eventually arriving at Sandhurst, now known as Bendigo, and found that the white clay found there was of superior quality so he established a pottery there in 1857, something that he had been trained in before leaving Scotland. Unfortunately because of the remote location at the time the business eventually had to be closed in 1861.

After a double track railway line between Melbourne and Bendigo was built he re-established the business in 1863. Guthrie sold the business in 1886 but retained some shareholding. In 1898 he, along with a partner, purchased the Bendigo Pottery business with him managing the company. A fire burnt much of the factory in 1900 but it was rebuilt. Guthrie retired in 1909 and died in 1910 with his burial taking place on 22 September 1910 at Bendigo Cemetery. The Bendigo Pottery went through several ownership changes over the years but it is still operating and is the oldest working pottery in Australia.