Souvenir ware plate ‘Eruption of the White Terrace’
Wednesday, 11 July 2018
The Rotorua Museum has what we think is the biggest collection of souvenir ware in museums in New Zealand. Most of the pieces were made in the 1900s and have scenes like the Bath House, Sanatorium, Prince’s Gate, Ohinemutu, or Whakarewarewa. This plate is unusual in that is shows an earlier event – the eruption of the White Terrace (Te Tarata) in 1885.
Plate with image of White Terrace Eruption, date unknown, maker unknown, Rotorua Museum Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa (2011.63.3)
This eruption occurred a few months before the eruption of Mount Tarawera and was considered to be a precursor to the major eruption.
This article describes the White terrace eruption as witnessed by photographer Josiah Martin.
The plate is not marked but was probably made in Germany, Austria or Czechoslovakia. The image on the plate is based on this photograph taken by Josiah Martin.
White terrace in eruption, 22 November 1885, Josiah Martin (1843-1916), Rotorua Museum Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa (2007.73.100) Original held at Alexander Turnbull Library.
The Josiah Martin image was then reproduced by artists such as Hugh Boscowan.
Eruption of White Terrace, John Hugh Boscowan (1851-1937), 22 November 1885, Rotorua Museum Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa (A-79)
This image may have appeared in newspapers or journals, which is perhaps how it was found and used on pottery made in Europe.
COLLECTION CURATOR - SOCIAL HISTORY
