Lost or missing sculptures of Glen Eira by Carol Stals
Originally published in the Glen Eira Historical Society Newsletter Number 11, November 2016 and used with permission.
Glen Eira seems to have mystery surrounding some of their sculptures.
One sculpture was the work Kore by Karl Duldig which was unfortunately stolen from its base in the Elsternwick Shopping Centre in 2013 [from outside the Post Office in Staniland Grove]. It was quite a few days before the disappearance was noticed. The police have not been able to trace it. [A duplicate sculpture was commissioned by the neighbouring City of Stonnington and installed in Central Park, Malvern East in 2016.]
Another work, Isabella, was created in memory of Isabella Webb, the 19 year old daughter of Judge George Webb of Crotonhurst. She died in India in 1876 while on a trip with her father.
Historian Dr Geulah Solomon notes: “The marble sculpture of Isabella, which Webb subsequently had cast by Charles Summers, the sculptor of the famous statue of Burke and Wills, now stands in the Caulfield City Hall" (1)
In 1981, the Caulfield Historical Society had a brass plaque made and placed on the statue in Caulfield Town Hall (2).
A third piece of sculpture was the bronze statue of a small child kneeling. It was a drinking fountain made for the Railway Reserve beside Elsternwick Station then shifted to Greenmeadows Gardens. This was designed and executed by Paul Montford, creator of the Adam Lindsay Gordon piece, plus major works on the Shrine of Remembrance. It seems to have disappeared many years ago
What a strange history of three valuable sculptures disappearing. Does anybody remember Isabella or the Kneeling Child? Do you know the answer?
Footnotes -1. G Solomon, Caulfield's heritage, volume 1 Caulfield's building heritage, City of Caulfield 1989, page 36.
2. Caulfield Historical Society Newsletter 18, August 1981, page 64.
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