Aalto Grand Bowl (1937 green) [2007.39.1]

The Aalto Vase (in Finnish literally meaning Wave Vase) is an iconic piece of Finnish design created by Alvar Aalto and his wife Aino Marsio.

Aalto created initial prototypes by blowing glass in the middle of a composition of wooden sticks stuck into the ground, letting the molten glass swell on only some sides and creating a wavy outline. The vase was originally manufactured by the glassworks factory using a wood mold which was slowly burned away. This vase was later displayed for the 1937 World’s Fair in Paris.

Chest of drawers, circa 1814 [2007.38.1]

The chest of drawers was brought to New Zealand on the Active in 1814 by John King (1797-1854) and his wife Hannah.

It is one of the first recorded pieces of Western made furniture to arrive in the country and os immense design significance and historical importance. The plain, pragmatic piece made from Australian hardwood also makes it significant in terms of early Australian furniture making practice.

John King had been a shoemaker in Oxfordshire where he was born in 1797. He was recruited by Rev Samuel Marsden as a lay-missionary in 1810. While training in Australia he met and married Hannah Hansen, and in 1814 while Hannah was pregnant with their second child the couple travelled with Marsden to Rangihoua in the Bay of Islands.

Tibetan prayer flag, Gun Powder container, Length of Textile, Coat, Map of Tibet [2007.37.1-.5]

Sign from Sergeants’ Mess , Narrow Neck Officer's Camp, WW2 (autographed) and Infantry Section Leading Manual, 1938 [2007.34.1]

Narrow Neck Camp was the main camp for training officers in the Auckland region.

Two nursing capes from Greenlane Hospital and Auckland Hospital, circa 1980s [2007.36.1-.2]

These nurse capes belonged to Susan Lawson (nee Tester) who trained at Greenlane Hospital, Auckland, 1986-1989.