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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Title | Wicker and Earthenware Demijohn |
| Date | c.1900 |
| Document Type | Object |
| Reference | SH 860 |
| Library / Archive | Museums Victoria |
| Collection Name | Personal Stories Collections |
| Description | Large, squat cane and earthenware demijohn with a short narrow neck, used for fermenting and storing wine. The bottle has been covered in wicker and there are two handles near the top of the demijohn. |
| Biographical Note / History | The demijohn was most likely brought to Australia by Vincenzo Candela and his wife Emanuela Nigro in 1920, although it may have been purchased in Australia by them. The Candelas made much of their own food including homemade pasta, tomato sauce, wine, sausages and they roasted their own coffee. Items that could not be purchased in Australia were often ordered by mail from the Italian manufacturer. This was a practice common in both Italy and Australia. Vincenzo also received catalogues from Italy after his migration to Australia. After his arrival in Australia from Italy in 1920 and, at the age of 47, Vincenzo established himself as a tailor, eventually establishing a successful 'Gents' High Class' tailoring business from his home in Melbourne. Vincenzo Candela was a man of many skills. He was a skilled clarinet player and like most itinerant musicians from the region of Basilicata, Italy, Vincenzo travelled the world. As this was seasonal work, when they returned home, these musicians practised other trades to support their families. Hence, Vincenzo was also a skilled tailor and photographer, as well as having a grocery and wine shop. Arriving in Melbourne in November 1920, at the age of 47, with a wife and a 10-year-old son to support, Vincenzo made an assessment of the opportunities for earning a living with one of his three trades. Unlike the other professions, tailoring, and Italian and European fashion in particular, was very much in demand. Vicenzo had learned the trade of dressmaking in Italy, most likely in Naples, a city at that time renowned for its tailors, many of who settled in Brazil, Argentina and the USA. He had brought with him many fashion magazines and patterns, and purchased a Singer sewing machine soon after he arrived. He kept up to date with current trends in Europe and continued to be a tailor until his death on 19 June 1943. |
| Theme(s) | Permanent Settlement and Successive Generations |
| Country (from) | Italy |
| Country (to) | Australia |
| Nationality | Italian |
| People | Candela, Vincenzo |
| Keywords | emigration, immigrant, food, object |
| Additional Information | Please note: Some of the metadata for this document has been taken from the Museum Victoria catalogue. |
| Catalogue Link | Museums Victoria Catalogue |
| Document(s) linked to |
Bellows Glass Plate Camera, Parisio Cantini Empoli Italian Photography Company Leaflet [Fragment] Singer Sewing Machine, No. 44-13 Set of Metal Thimbles Sausage Maker, L. F. & C., 'Universal', No. 2 |
| Copyright | Museums Victoria |
