Tasmanian Shell Necklaces

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Shell Necklace: Dyed Kelp Shells:Cantharidus irisodontes
Necklace length 168 cms

IMAGE SOURCE: Bett Gallery
369 Elizabeth St. North Hobart TAS 7000
Website: www.bettgallery.com.au

NOTE: I seems that many of the Martin family's necklaces – 'Hobart Necklaces' – were dyed with aniline dyes in various colours nevertheless not all would have been. While many necklaces produced in Tasmania have ambiguous provenance there is increasing evidence to suggest that a great many may not have been made by Aboriginal makers. Indeed, given the number of years the Martin family were involved in necklace making, it is likely that a great many shell necklaces originating in Tasmania, and without clear Aboriginal provenance, may well have been made by a member of the Martin family or Bertie J May sometime between the early 1900 until the 1950s and perhaps beyond.

All would qualify as being ‘Tasmaniana’ but it is likely that a great many are not of Aboriginal origin.

The following information has been supplied by the reference library in Launceston in regard to the manufacture of shell necklaces by non Aboriginal people in Tasmania:

• Arthur Robert Butterfield (born 22 Feb 1867) was a watchmaker, jeweller and optician at 51 Elizabeth Street, Hobart. His private residence was Mortimer Avenue, New Town.
• Bertie J May was a travel goods and souvenir manufacturer – Source Wise’s Post Office Directory 1946, 1948
• Frederick Martin and his wife Mary are listed in the Tasmanian Electoral Rolls 1914 and 1917 as shell necklace makers.
• An article by E. Mawle “Notes on kelp shell Cantharidus irisodontes” in Australian Zoologist Vol 1, no. 6, 1918 p 161-162., describes the harvesting of kelp shells by non-Aboriginal people to make necklaces and hatpins in 1918, – Source Keeping Culture: Aboriginal Tasmania

The following information has also been provided by Marion Sargent, Reference Librarian, Launceston Library, LAUNCESTON, TAS. 7250 – Email: Launceston.Reference@education.tas.gov.au

M M Martin, shell necklace manufacturers:

• It appears that Mrs Mary Maria Martin had the business at 75 Collins Street from about 1906 until 1908.
  
• The Post Office Directories for 1906 and 1907 each have an advertisement for M M Martin Wholesale Shell Necklace Manufacturer, established in 1875.
  
• They had a factory at Cascade Road, Hobart, and a branch factory in Honolulu, Hawaii, which appears to have been run by a son, Frederick Charles Martin (born 1877).
• Thomas and M M Martin were previously listed as fruit growers at Cascade Road (1904-1906).
• From 1909 to 1914 the business was located at 83 Collins Street.
  
• J J Martin was a jeweller at the same address. This was Joseph John Martin.
  
• In the 1903 Electoral Roll he was a jeweller and was living at Cascade Road with many other Martin family members.
  
• In 1915 George Sly had a boot shop there.
• It is thought that the shell business either slowed down or closed during the First World War, as there are no more entries in the Post Office Directories until 1921 to 1923. During that time the business of shell ornament manufacturers was located at 67 Cascade Road, also the private residence of the Martin family.
  
• Mary’s husband Thomas Daniel Martin died aged 80 on 6 January 1923.
  
• The property at Cascade Road appears to have been sold, and Mary and her daughters, Mary May (born 1881) and Ellen Ida Martin (born 1886), moved to 25 Weld Street, Hobart.
• Mary Maria Martin (nee Alexander) died aged 79 on 9 July 1924.
  
• By 1927 her two daughters, Mary May and Ellen, had moved to 12 View Street, Sandy Bay, where the business was carried on under the name of M M Martin & Co, shell manufacturers.
  
• Mary May Martin died on 13 November 1933, aged 51.
  
• Ellen Martin continued with the business until at least 1948, when the last Post Office Directory was published.
  
• Frederick Charles Martin died at 12 View Street in September 1948.
  
• Ellen is not listed in the 1950s phone books. Ellen Ida Martin died in August 1969; she had been living with her nephew Mr J Martin at Blackman’s Bay. – Source: Launceston Library, Civic Square, LAUNCESTON TAS 7250 – 04.08.09

Research

• Marion Sargent: Research Librarian, Launceston Library
• Ray Norman: Research Associate – CAIA Website
  
• Dick Bett : Bett Gallery, 369 Elizabeth St. North Hobart TAS 7000 Gallery Website