H.M.A.S SYDNEY SWEETHEART STRATTON COMPACT

THE WAITING WOMAN
H.M.A.S SYDNEY II WAS LOST AT SEA WITH ALL HANDS, 645 AUSTRALIA'S WORST NAVAL DISASTER
 19TH.NOVEMBER 1941 OFF THE WEST AUSTRALIAN COAST
THIS SCULPTURE IS AT THE H.M.A.S  SYDNEY II MEMORIAL GERALDTON W.A.
IT IS BY CHARLES SMITH AND JOAN WALSH-SMITH
image Joe Prendergast a.b.c local

THIS IS A SWEETHEART BROOCH USED ON A COMPACT
Powerful symbols of separation, heart-ache and home sickness this sweetheart brooch offers an insight into the objects produced in the hopes of keeping memories and relationships alive in the face of short-term or permanent separation.

"credit to the australian national maritime museum"
 
THIS BROOCH ACCORDING TO THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL MARITIME WAS PRODUCED
BETWEEN 1939 AND 1945

STRATTON PUNT COMPACT
THESE UNITS WERE MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO 1940 POSSIBLY FROM 1936
 DURING THE WAR THE STRATTON FACTORIES WERE DESTROYED DURING AIR RAIDS,
 THE ONES THAT REMAINED TURNED TO PRODUCING WAR ARTICLES
THE PRODUCTION OF COMPACTS DID NOT RESUME UNTIL 1946

THIS PUNT MODEL MAY HAVE BEEN REVIVED IN 1946
WITH PRODUCTION CEASING IN EARLY 1950'S
"credit the stratton key"
PIANO STYLE HINGE AND PURSE TYPE CLOSURE

60 MM X 60 MM X 13 MM 
FLATTENED ELLIPTICAL CASE
THE BROOCH IS STUD MOUNTED IN THE LID

ORIGINAL SIFTER FOR LOOSE POWDER
GOLD TONE INTERIOR
ALL BRASS CASE
BRASS AND ENAMEL BROOCH

VERTICAL INCISING TO BASE
SOME AGE DISCOLOURATION AS EXPECTED
I THINK THIS IS A REAL TREASURE AND WOULD HAVE BEEN CHERISHED
BY SOMEONE ALL THOSE YEARS AGO
SAD AS IT MAY BE.