New Zealand Historic Interior Photos

just ran across these, thought they would be of general interest. http://ead.natlib.govt.nz/ranfurly/PA1-f-194.html

Major Alexander's office, Government House, Wellington between 1897 and 1903

On 2005-03-01 07:31, Johnny Dollar wrote:

Major Alexander's office, Government House, Wellington between 1897 and 1903

TSK TSK....Some people's rooms are SOOO messy!

Have a nice Tiki Day!

[ Edited by: mrsmiley on 2005-03-01 10:02 ]

Incredible stuff the Governor had in his collection. I am curious what he had in that "Strapped coffin".

On 2005-03-01 10:02, mrsmiley wrote:

TSK TSK....Some people's rooms are SOOO messy!

---

Have a nice Tiki Day!

them victorians was like that.

chances are the governor could have sat in his study, drinking a navy grog and contemplating his collection. a man ahead of his time.

https://natlib.govt.nz/items?utf8=%E2%9C%93&text=major+alexander
It looks like the original link for the pictures is broken so I'm going to post them again because they're cool.
From the National Library of New Zealand. You can purchase the prints from them. Major Alexander's looks like the inspiration for Trader Sam's.

View of a detail of the room in Government House, Wellington, used as an office by Major Alexander, Private Secretary and Aid de Camp to the Governor, Lord Ranfurly. The photograph shows the collections decorating part of the wall, which supports a variety of axes, drums, and spears from the Pacific islands, together with the shell and head of a sea turtle, arranged on a tapa cloth. Photograph taken between 1897 and 1903 by an unknown photographer.

The photograph shows the collections decorating part of the wall, which supports a variety of Maori wooden artifacts.

Shows collections decorating part of the wall and the area above the fireplace. The wall area supports a variety of axes, drums, and spears from the Pacific Islands arranged on a tapa cloth. A crest of pacific spears also tops the display over the fireplace. Most of the collection over the fireplace consists of photographs, those of Lord and Lady Ranfurly are displayed in wooden frames decorated with chip carving. This technique of wood carving was derived in part from 16th and 17th century British fashions in decorating furniture. It was used by commercial furniture manufacturers, but was also a popular home hobby craft practiced by middle class women in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. That containing Lady Ranfurly's image is designed with a certain arbitary arrangement of elements, a design fashion derived by Europeans from certain conventions of Japanese design. Among the photographs there are two framed paintings. One is a signed water colour of a Maori girl by Frances Hodgkins.

Alexander is seated at his desk, behind which are a framed panoramic photograph and a watercolour, possibly by Lady Ranfurly. A fine kete hangs on the wall.

-Lori

[ Edited by: tikilongbeach 2014-08-25 10:27 ]

Mahalo Lori!

Great pictures. I especially like the one of him at the desk. I think PelePaul woud appreciate those.