David Scott Mitchell's father
By Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol 2, (MUP), 1967
Mitchell
showed his interest in educational and cultural projects by acting as a trustee
of the Australian Museum in 1853-69, a shareholder in the Newcastle Mechanics'
Institute, and a generous benefactor to St Paul's College, to which he was
elected a senior fellow in 1857. He was associated with the Australian
Subscription Library, now the Public Library of New South Wales, as a
committeeman from 1832 to 1853 and vice-president and president 1856 to 1869,
and it was to this institution that his son, David Scott Mitchell, bequeathed
his priceless collection of Australiana and an endowment to maintain it.
James Mitchell
By Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol 2, (MUP), 1967
Physician
and industrialist James Mitchell (1792-1869) was appointed surgeon at Sydney
Hospital in 1829, and had a long and successful private practice at Cumberland
Place. This candelabrum was made in London in 1838, following a subscription
made by his friends and associates in acknowledgement of his 'highly valuable
professional service'. Appropriately, the candelabrum's centrepiece figure is
Aesculapius, the Roman god of medicine and healing.
Testimonials
By National Gallery of Victoria
During
the nineteenth century, prominent figures were regularly presented with
testimonials in recognition of service. In Australia these invariably took the
form of a flamboyant silver presentation object. The most lavish are elaborate
decorative centrepieces. During the second half of the century, when Australian
cities could support large numbers of silversmiths, centrepieces were nearly
always made locally.
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