We acknowledge the Gadigal of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the Country on which the Art Gallery of NSW stands.

Title

NSW native implements

1892

Artist

William Sidman

England, Australia

1847 – 21 Feb 1918

Alternate image of NSW native implements by William Sidman

  • Details

    Place where the work was made
    Sydney → New South Wales → Australia
    Date
    1892
    Media category
    Print
    Materials used
    etching, aquatint on thick wove paper
    Dimensions
    20.3 x 13.2 cm printed image; 22.4 x 14.3 cm platemark; 33.6 x 25.4 cm sheet; 40.0 x 32.0 x 2.5 cm frame
    Signature & date

    Signed l.r., pencil "W. Sidman".
    Signed and dated l.r. within plate-mark, printed "Sid [within circle] 92.".

    Credit
    Gift of Tim Klingender 2021. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program
    Location
    Not on display
    Accession number
    81.2021
    Copyright

    Reproduction requests

    Artist information
    William Sidman

    Works in the collection

    1

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  • About

    Born in England in 1847, William Sidman came to Australia in 1880 and was active in Sydney in the 1890s, producing etched views of the city, harbour, botanic gardens as well as the occasional still life. He died at Camden, NSW in 1918. Sidman’s oeuvre became known via a group of posthumous impressions printed by Basil Hall from original copper plates, commissioned by the National Gallery of Australia in 1996.

    This print depicts a group of historical Aboriginal objects including shields, boomerangs, and spears from New South Wales. Sidman possibly arranged and recorded the objects at a Sydney museum or a private collection. The objects have been arranged for their aesthetic effect, with their original function and significance secondary.

  • Places

    Where the work was made

    Sydney