A spotted deer from India
This enigmatic animal is a resin-cast replica of an early nineteenth century wooden (cedar) carved and painted toy that belonged to John & Elizabeth Macarthur's children at Elizabeth Farm, near Parramatta or, perhaps, to their grandchild at Camden Park. The original remains in the collection at Camden Park. The animal is probably a spotted deer or chital, indigenous to many parts of northern India, and the original toy is likely to be a product of the extensive hand-made wooden toy industry of Rajasthan. Brightly painted wooden or papier-mâché pull-along toys of elephants, tigers, camels, horses and a range of other animals were a celebrated product of the Rajasthani toy industry. Perhaps surprising, spotted deer were a common sight around colonial Sydney, first imported around 1803 by Surgeon John Harris. Within ten years he had around 400 spotted deer on his various properties including at his Ultimo estate. They were frequently hunted for sport by the gentlemen of the colony, though by the mid-19th century they were also sold as pets.
Published on
Collections
Browse all![Elizabeth Farm house - front verandah and carriageway](https://images.slm.com.au/fotoweb/embed/2022/11/e59d8550dc104cbc95719530c4ef4d0e.jpg)
'A most excellent brick house' Elizabeth Farm
Curator Dr Scott Hill explores some of the enduring mysteries buried in the architecture of Australia’s oldest surviving homestead
![](https://images.mhnsw.au/fotoweb/embed/2024/08/cdd02bf8ad924faabac6406aade91326.jpg)
The fountains of Machattie Park, Bathurst
Several of the postcards featured in our current library display depict Machattie Park in Bathurst. Postcard collector Vera Bell lived in Bathurst between 1905 and 1908 while her father, John, acted as the police superintendent
![Back of postcard with short text address to Miss Vera Bell](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/zl9du87e/production/f3cb5c5c9f9f46c02803dc43a6dc9a86b72ae01f-2000x1253.jpg?fit=max&auto=format)
Tea and scandal
‘Come to afternoon “Tea and Scandal” tomorrow’ is the wonderfully enticing offer made via postcard by Viley and Olive, young friends of Vera Bell
![Painting of various animals riding bicycles](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/zl9du87e/production/72dc2c70c7103ba81f190f4ddc3c639fff9d42bd-2000x1229.jpg?fit=max&auto=format)
Bicycle race
'Bicycle race' is just one of many postcards from the collection of Vera Bell as part of the Bell family papers, now housed in the Caroline Simpson Library