R.Shott & Son Wood Souvenirs
Collection Guide

Introduction

Tasmania is home to one of the few remaining intact early 20th century shop interiors in Australia. R. Shott & Son was established in Launceston, Tasmania, the island state of Australia in 1907. Three generations of the Shott family made and repaired umbrellas and in later years produced wood souvenirs on the premises. The National Trust of Australia (Tasmania) acquired the shop in 1978 after 70 years of continual operation by the Shott family.

History

Robert Walter Shott (1858-1935) was born in England in 1858. After living in New Zealand he emigrated to Melbourne in the late 1880s and established an umbrella shop in St Kilda. Following a period of poor health he moved to Tasmania, where he opened another umbrella shop at 64 George Street, Launceston. Shott’s reputation for fine craftsmanship spread quickly. In 1908 he was lauded at the Australian Natives’ Association exhibition in Launceston and in 1920 he presented a walking stick to the Prince of Wales when he visited Tasmania. That same year the business moved to its current location: 60 George Street.

By the mid 1920s, Robert Walter’s son Robert William Shott (1899-1964), began to take an active part in the business. Robert Jnr built upon his father’s reputation for highly skilled workmanship and can largely be attributed with diversifying the business. Encouraged by the critical acclaim that another Tasmanian firm; Piper’s, gained for their Tasmanian wood souvenirs at the Wembley Exhibition of 1923, Shott & Son began selling and eventually making their own Tasmanian blackwood souvenirs. Many of these were marked with a round paper label on the base, and small silver map of Tasmania on the side. Thus began a Tasmanian institution.

John William Robert (1925-1978), son of Robert William, was the last generation of the Shott family to inherit the umbrella and souvenir business. Born in Launceston he began work as a teenager in the family business in the 1940s. While John trained in French polishing and became an expert machinist, his sister Dare provided valuable assistance repairing and sewing decorative motifs onto umbrellas. Every civic guest to Launceston after World War Two was said to have been presented with a handmade wood souvenir from Shott & Son. John is credited with greatly expanding the range of timbers and products available until his death in 1978.

Significance

Tasmanian timbers have been utilised for both decorative and practical purposes since early European settlement. Surviving examples of 19th century Tasmanian woodworking tend to be highly decorative and of limited production. Shott and Son Tasmanian woodwork however, embodies both the functional and socially accessible. Originating in 1930s depression Tasmania, their work replaced souvenir ware previously imported from Europe, particularly ceramics that were emblazoned with transfers of local scenes. Shott & Son’s affordable range included every day products such as eggcups, ashtrays and napkin rings, to the more decorative - clocks, walking sticks and presentation boxes. Over 70 different types of items have been identified as produced by Shott and Son over a 40 year period.

Shott & Son’s work was highly sought after. The business utilised predominantly Tasmanian blackwood but also explored the use of other native timbers. Importantly, the Shott family sourced these locally, reinforced in newspaper advertisements and local lore. Visitors to Launceston were encouraged by printed tour guides to visit the premises. The business was well known for its distinct Tasmanian blackwood fittings, felt covered counter and scenic tromp l'oeils, as much as its workmanship. Woodwork for sale was quintessentially Australian – kangaroos, boomerangs, maps of Australia and Tasmania. Locals purchased products to send to friends and family overseas, as well as birthday, engagement and wedding gifts. This tendency to purchase for rites of passage emphasises the importance of Shott & Son in Tasmanian life.

Even today Shott & Son’s wares are still spoken of locally in the highest esteem. This is testament to a family business that over three generations provided quality and importantly affordable wood craftsmanship for the Tasmanian and wider Australian community.

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