Carved Emu Egg by Aunty Esther Kirby

by Kimberley Moulton, Senior Curator South Eastern Aboriginal Collections

As Senior Curator of South Eastern Collections at Melbourne Museum I have the honour of working with thousands of cultural objects in the collection some date back to the early 1800s right through to present time. The south eastern collection I curate holds significant historical and contemporary objects from across New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia which have important connections to our history but also the living culture of First Peoples today. I can't say I have a favourite, as every single object holds a special place however the carved Emu eggs in the collection are particularly beautiful works of art and cultural expression.

Aunty Esther Kirby is one of the most highly regarded emu egg carvers in Australia, she is one of a handful of artists who continue this tradition in south-eastern Australia and the Carnavon region of Western Australia. The craft of emu egg carving first became popular in the mid to late 19th century and has been carried on through family lines that continue the delicate carving practice.

Aunty Esther learnt the skill from watching her father the late Sam Kirby who was renowned for his masterful skill and ability 'to do anything with the eggs'. Sam was referred to as 'the Boss Carver" and after he passed away in 1977 Esther began carving to keep his name going. Her skill in carving through 11-15 layers of shell to create her intricate works and shades of blue/green which has earned her Australian and International recognition as a master carver.

At Museums Victoria we are privileged to hold several carved eggs from Aunty Esther as well as her guidance as a key member of our Yulendj knowledge group who collaborate on projects across Museums Victoria ensuring First Peoples knowledge is at the core of the work we do.

You can view one of Aunty Esther’s eggs at Museums Victoria's collections website and also in the First Peoples exhibition at Melbourne Museum in the Many Nations display which celebrates the extraordinary skill of making cultural materials and close connection to country that these objects and their makers hold.