Heap Mannam Collection

The Heap Mannam Collection consists of antique furniture, household items, books and works of art. Of particular note are the many examples of high Victorian decorative arts with oriental influences, displaying an English interest in distant imperial territories.

Dr John and Mrs Isobel Mannam very generously donated this collection of valuable artefacts to the University over a period of time in honour of their parents.

Justice Kemeri Murray, a member of the Flinders University Council (1974-1996) and friend of Dr and Mrs Mannam, was instrumental in introducing them to the appropriate University representatives to initiate the collection. Justice Murray subsequently donated some items given to her as gifts by Mrs Mannam to add to the collection.

Heap Family

• Porcelain/China
• Glassware
• Silverware
• Furniture
• Paintings and artworks
• Miscellaneous

Porcelain/China

• Large Canton ware bowl typically painted with Chinese domestic scenes mainly in greens and pinks
• French porcelain lidded bowl with gilt metal mounts, scrolled handles and feet, painted with flower & scrolls, Meissen type mark beneath
• Porcelain game service, comprising 10 meat plates, large serving dish, painted with game bird, gilded with elaborate scrolled rims. "Limoges", French, c. 1880
• Royal Crown Derby lidded vase of baluster shape with gilt relief floral decoration against a deep blue/green background. English, late 19th century
• Tall ewer shaped vase of deep blue with painted neo-classical frieze decoration. Marked J.S. Australia. Austrian
• Pair of satsuma vases depicting domestic Japanese scenes amid typical geometric gilt decoration. Each with wooden base/stand, c. 1900

Glassware

• Ruby glass vase with etched bamboo design, early 20th century
• Cameo-covered glass vase. White floral and leaf decoration on translucent blue ground. English, c. 1900

Silverware

• American silver gilt child's rattle in the form of a halloween pumpkin 'stg silver' c. 1900
• Silver christening mug, banded body, scrolled dragon handles, 4 monograms dated from 1813. Maker A. Rosch, New Orleans
• Eastern silver card case decorated with oriental scenes. Asian, c. 1890

• 4-piece sterling silver tea and coffee service embossed with scenes representing the 4 continents amid leave scrolls on scrolled cabriole feet. Richard Hennell, London, 1859.

• Sterling silver ewer in renaissance taste, chased and decorated and inscribed "Presented to Mr SRH … 11 Oct 1893." James Dixon & Sons, Sheffield, 1892

• Silver box embossed with flowers and cartouch monogramed FEH. Gilt interior fitted with inkwell and pen stand. "Sterling & other metals". American? Late 19th Century

• Silver cigarette box wood lined with Heap crest engraved on top
• Heavily cut glass inkwell with leafy embossed silver mount. American, c. 1900

Furniture

• Oval walnut salon table on quadruped birdcage base inlaid with kingwood crossbanded borders to each surface, c. 1870
• Leather 4 fold screen with painted scene of Lady Richmond's ball before the battle of Waterloo. First half of 19th century
• Ladies writing desk in crossbanded mahogany, top with fold-out front section and mounted with cupboards inlaid with lozenge-shaped panels, single long drawer, square tapering legs, c. 1900
• Cross banded satinwood sewing table with domed casket top on slender square tapering legs painted in late 18th century English style of Angelica Kauffman, c. 1900

Paintings and artworks

• "Bunch of Buckskins", portfolio of eight coloured lithographs of American Indians & cowboys by Frederick Remington, 1901 in original folder
• Portrait of King George IV in style of Sir Thomas Lawrence. Portrait on glass possibly a transfer finished in oils, gilt and gesso frame. English, c. 1825

Miscellaneous

• 3-piece clock garniture in Napoleon III taste. Rich blue porcelain clock, inset panels of Louis XV-style pastoral scenes, floral bouquets and putti. Tazza urns similarly decorated, all on gilt bases. By Wm Litherland, Paris & Liverpool, c. 1870
• Cameo-carved conch shell of neo-classical medallion scene with leafy surrounds. Origin uncertain
• War medal 1939-1945 in box addressed to Mrs J. Manhajn, White House, Beacon Hill, Rubery, Worcs. English.
• Ivory figure of leprechaun or elf, carrying spade and 4-leaf clover, c. 1920
• Cameo-carved shell piece depicting fisherman with net amongst the waves. Asian, c. 1890
• Carved ivory chess set representing hierarchical form of Chinese noble house, each figure mounted on puzzle ball & stand, all on ebonized tiered plinth with glass dome
• Oriental carved ivory group of a barge with elaborately decorated canopy, figures of rowers, guards, royalty, on wooden plinth. Asian, c. 1900
• Ivory figure of a Japanese girl in well-carved Kimono, holding a lantern. Artist’s signature underneath, c. 1900
• Shaped satinwood standing toilet mirror, frame painted with a frieze of roses, c. 1900
• Octagonal brass tray, elaborately engraved with Indian mythological figures
• Pair panelled and mother-of-pearl inlaid opera glasses, gilt metal base, marked ‘La Maire Paris’, purple velvet bag
• Heap family pedigree. In Special Collections (General), location no. 929.2 H434.H
• 1877 English threepence
• 1883 English threepence
• 1843 English farthing
• 1897 English farthing
• Hinged ivory ball, exterior carved with renaissance style lozenge and leafy motifs, opening to reveal nativity scene. German? c. 1900
• Ivory figure of a wood collector bearing a load on his back. Artist’s mark beneath, Origin uncertain.
• Ivory brooch carved in the form of a rose bush, c. 1900
• Ivory figure group of a monkey, baby collecting crabs - legendary theme. Origin uncertain.