J.W. Steeth brass vase

I found this brass vase last Friday in an op shop, just before the Melbourne cup weekend.
It has an elegant if simple shape. It is hand made with the body made of sheet brass (there is a faintly visible seam) and a heavy cast base to keep it nice and stable. It stands 273mm (approx 10 3/8 inches) tall.
Only after I brought it home did I notice it has a maker’s mark.

The mark is small (only 15mm wide including the logo) and worn, but still legible.
It reads “J.W. STEETH” with a trefoil.

I was able to find J. W. Steeth on a directory of Australian Silversmiths. They were a Melbourne based Silversmith and Goldsmith.
I also found that the National Gallery of Victoria has a birthday cake shaped clock in silver with 100 gold candles made for the 1934 Melbourne Centenary, which was recently sold at auction after being found in pieces in a garden shed.

But a more iconic design from J.W. Steeth was none other than the Melbourne Cup. The current design of the Melbourne Cup was originated by J.W. Steeth in 1919, and they were also the makers from then until 1970.
There is a fantastic article on the history of the Steeth family legacy on the ABC written by J.W. Steeth’s Great Grand-daughter.

Just an interesting little bit of Melbourne history.