There have been reports of a shell necklace maker (jeweller?) Berty May working in Hobart – both South and West Hobart have been mentioned. It seems that he was working there in the 1940s & 1950s but little more than that is known about him or his work. It is thought that his work can be identified by his apparent predilection to dye his sell necklaces with aniline dyes in a range of colours. However he may not have always dyed his necklaces!The network would be pleased to hear from anyone who knows anything at all about Berty May. A Tasmanian collector has a shell broach on a card that indicates that it was made in Tasmania by “J May”. Are Berty and J the same people? Are they related? Where did they or he work? Did he/they have any connection to A Butterfield?
We imagine that Berty, and possibly others, made his necklaces as "Hobart Necklaces."
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