Curio

State Library of New South Wales
Silver Candelabrum presented to Sir Francis Forbes, 1838

Silver Candelabrum presented to Sir Francis Forbes, 1838

Silver

Benjamin Smith, London

XR 11

Presented by Mrs KA Mitchell, 1931

Before the gold watch there was the silver candelabrum. This splendid and ornate piece was given to Sir Francis Forbes, the first Chief Justice of New South Wales 'in token of respect and esteem for his public and private virtues' by 'the colonists of New South Wales'.

Justice, Mercy, Wisdom

In the centre are three classical Roman figures representing Justice (holding the scales), Mercy (holding the sword), and Wisdom and Commerce (holding the lance). They stand below six candlestick holders and a central basket that was originally designed for flowers.  On one side is the coat of arms of the colony of NSW with the colonial motto: Sic fortis Etruria crevit – Thus Etruria grew strong. (Etruria was a region in central Italy which became very influential in the Roman Empire by 650 BCE). On the other side is the coat of arms of the Forbes family with their motto: Solus inter plurimos – I am alone among very many.

Further reading:

David Forbes, Memoir of Sir Francis Forbes, Chief Justice of New South Wales, Sydney: Henry Solomon, 1875.

C.H. Currey, “Forbes, Sir Francis (1784-1841)”, Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, first published in 1966.

J.M. Bennett, Lives of the Australian Chief Justices. Sir Francis Forbes. Sydney: The Federation Press, 2001.