| Brief Description | Emu egg, vertically mounted in silver, with decoration of Australian animals and a male figure. Egg is mounted on an ebony turned base. The egg itself is mounted on intricate cast and applied silver work; the base depicting the Australian scrub land, with two wallaby figures, an emu, and a male figure holding a throwing spear. The figures and foliage have been applied after the main base had been cast. The egg is mounted upon a column wrapped with grape wines. The egg has been divided in two and hinged with a silver fastening at the front, and a stylised 'leaf-shaped' collar around the middle joining the two halves. The egg features applied silver plaques of a griffin and lion, and the motto 'Instraurator Ruinae', which tranlates as "A repairer of ruin" and is the Forsyth Clan motto. On top of the egg is a silver finial with 'leaf-shaped' edging and an emu. The base of the silver is marked with the silversmith/ jeweller 'T. B. WAY. ADELAIDE'. |
| Object Production Note | Made by the jeweller and clockmaker T B Way. The business was started by Thomas Way in Hobart, Tasmania, he then went on to buy a branch in Adelaide. In 1880 he sold the Tasmanian and Adelaide shops and moved the business to Melbourne (see Victoria and its Metropolos, Past and Present - Sutherland, Alexander, 1888) |
| Object History Note | The egg is thought to have been gifted to Ms.Christian Watson Forsyth by her brother, upon her marriage to John Innes Nicoll of Turriff in 1880. |